SHILLONG, July 22: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Friday expressed confidence to lead the government in 2023.
Speaking to reporters, UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh said that looking at all the indications as far as the political development in the state is concerned the UDP this time is going to do very well in 2023.
“As of now from all indications if you observe…inspite of us being part and parcel of the government, people are looking towards the UDP as the next alternative who will form the government in 2023,” he said.
Mawthoh further claimed that leaders of different political parties have also given their commitment to contest from the UDP in 2023.
“We have another 6-7 MLAs and we also have MLAs from Garo Hills who have given their commitment to contest from the UDP,” he said.
The UDP leader said, “if we take all MLAs, non-MLAs and sitting MDCs (who are also aspirants and potential winners from different constituencies), we are going to do well in 2023.”
“And now the disintegration of the Congress and with the coming in of a new political party (AITC) in the state and with the unfortunate developments in the other political parties, we see that the UDP is growing in strength and from all indications it appears that the UDP is going to lead the government in 2023,” he said.
He said post 2018 the party could manage to win 3 bye-elections which was already a positive sign for the UDP.
Mawthoh said the UDP this time around do not want to be labeled as B-team of the Congress or B-team of the NPP.
“We want to be team A, who will be leading the state in 2023. That is what we want and we are working very hard to mobilize the public support and we hope that things will be shaped in that way only so that we can also provide the required leadership for the state of Meghalaya in the next five years,” he said.
He said earlier the UDP was part and parcel of the government led by the Congress because of the coalition era and coalition politics.
“At that point of time since our number is less, we have to tag along with a political party which has the majority,” Mawthoh said.
He said that from 2013 to 2018, the UDP remained steadfast in the opposition and did not join the Congress for five years.
“But after 2018 when we could win only 6 seats, again we had to join hands with other political parties in the government led by the NPP.”
He also pointed out at the political variants and the mutation that is happening ahead of the 2023 polls. “However, I don’t know much about other political parties but I know UDP as a party is growing from strength to strength,” he added.
Meanwhile, the UDP general secretary informed that the party’s manifesto committee is on the job preparing the manifesto and would soon bring it to the public domain so that people will know what the party intends to do post 2023.
