Shillong, Aug 24: With the phenomenal rise of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, one of the oldest state political parties, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is obviously jittery.

UDP, having 12 legislators, all from Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, knows very well that its next battle in the assembly elections would be more of a political survival battle with the VPP than any other political party.

Both the VPP and the UDP have a poor to zero support base in the Garo Hills region and they have to fight it out in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region having 36 seats and 24 in Garo Hills.

Therefore, UDP leader and former Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui’s statement to the media earlier this week assumes much importance. He said: “But our main challenge is how to get some base in Garo Hills so that the UDP, which is the largest regional party, should be a pan Meghalaya party.”

Rymbui acknowledged that the UDP so far was only concentrating in the Khasi-Jaintia region, but although he didn’t explicitly say it, he meant that it can’t afford to do so with a resurgent VPP.

According to observers, if the popularity of the VPP remains or even if it dips marginally, even then it would sweep the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region. Then there is the Congress that cannot be ignored completely. The party still has its dedicated support base across the state.

Under such circumstances, the UDP might not cross the double figure mark in the next elections. If that happens, the party’s bargaining power in government formation would be minimal. The UDP enjoyed being in the ruling side for decades.

Rymbui said the UDP will also try to strengthen the party at the grassroot – and that includes the Garo Hills region. But easier said than done, the UDP didn’t win a single seat in the past two assembly elections from Garo Hills. In the 2023 assembly elections, the party fielded ten candidates and all lost.

Moreover, the National People’s Party is a force to reckon with in the Garo Hills region.

Former CM Dr. Mukul Sangma does hold a sway in the region and whichever party he represents will give a good fight, but his influence has done little to affect NPP’s ever-growing strength.

Meanwhile, Rymbui seemed also worried over the exodus of MLAs from different political parties to the NPP. Downplaying this, Rymbui said: “whoever joins any other party is up to his/her own conscience. It is their judgment as they are the best person to judge.”

But Rymbui also let out a desperate call for defense by warning that the UDP won’t hesitate to criticize the government, despite being in the government. This message was clearly directed at the NPP not to mess with its legislators and lure them into its fold.

“If we have to criticize the government, we will do it because we are here to strengthen democracy, governance. (If anything) affects the development of the state, we will not hold back, we will criticize the government even though we are a coalition partner,” Rymbui said in self defense.

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