Shillong, Oct 6: United Democratic Party (UDP) chief and Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh, on Wednesday said the party will continue its attempt for unification of the regional forces in the state.

Speaking to media persons, Lyngdoh admitted that it was the dream of the former UDP president (L) Dr Donkupar Roy for unifying the regional forces in the state.

“Attempts have been made in the past to see that there is unity as far as the regional parties are concerned but at the end of the day we have seen that we could not… (because) there are different reasons for that,” he said.

He, however, maintained the party is committed to work towards achieving the objective for unification of the regional forces.

“We felt that meeting with our friends in other regional parties and keeping on interacting with them, sharing with them, talking to them, I think as president, I don’t lose hope and as a party also we don’t lose hope on that. We will continue that attempt to ensure how we as regional parties come together as one,” he said.

The UDP chief’s statement comes a day after former Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit announced his decision to float a new regional party named ‘Voice of the People Party’ (VPP).

The state at present has four regional political parties including UDP, Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and People’s Democratic Front (PDF).

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “As of now, let me share with you, I am not saying UDP is always the best. But, as far as the feedback and the views and opinions of the people of the state, they feel that only UDP which is the only regional party that is there for very long time, we do have HSPDP but looking into all angles I think UDP is the party now which people are looking at, so we are pitching on that and see that how we can take forward as far as the party is concerned.”

He further stated that people will decide as they know better.