SHILLONG, Aug 17: Former president of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) Wellbirth Rani on Wednesday formally joined the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Along with him, proprietor of Khasi daily – U Rupang, Monarch Shabong was also inducted into the party.

Both were welcomed to the party by the UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh in presence of party leaders, MLAs and supporters.

Addressing the induction programme, Lyngdoh said that the joining of both Shabong and Rani will be beneficial to the party as both of them are vocal when it comes to issues pertaining to the interest of the people of the state.

“With both being the voice of the people for many years, it is high time for them to join the UDP as they can play a big role in the party to help in strengthening the regionalism forces in the state,” said Lyngdoh.

Lyngdoh said that though UDP could only secure 8 seats during the 2018 election yet at present there is a force that is driving the people and leaders of other political parties to join UDP especially during by-elections when the party began to show its strength by winning Mawphlang, Ranikor and Shella by-election.

He added that as of now the UDP is growing day by day and people including leaders from various political parties are joining the party hence it indicates that UDP will lead the state government post 2023 election.

In his speech, Rani said that the decision to join UDP was not taken on a personal level but it was a collective decision of all his supporters who had come and witnessed his induction to the party.

“My objective to come and join the UDP is to strengthen the regionalism forces among the people of the Meghalaya as I felt it is the need of hour to have a government led by a regional party who understand the sentiments of the people in order to able to come out with decision or program to safeguard the interest of the people and the state as a whole,” said Rani.

He added that even though he has officially joined the UDP yet, he will continue to be vocal on the issues which he had taken up during his tenure as president of FKJGP as he had joined the political party with a purpose.

Also speaking after his induction, Monarch Shabong said that though today he has officially joined UDP but he was already part of the UDP family since the late 1990s to early 2000.

Shabong said that he is no stranger to the leaders of the UDP as he was constantly in touch with them in the past but in different professions.

“In the last 50 years, our state had been governed or ruled by a party from outside the state and this is one of the reasons that the state witnessed several pending issues like the inner line permit (ILP) and border besides many others,” said Shabong.

“We have learned from the past that there are forces that prevent regional parties from leading the state government hence at this moment there is a need to work together to strengthen the force of regional parties to self govern the people and the state in the future,” he added.