SHILLONG, OCT 14: The United Democratic Party will contest the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection and rebuild from the ground up after eight of its MLAs joined the BJP, party general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne said on Wednesday.
“We will go ahead. Now we are still organizing meetings in different places,” Chyne said, asserting that the party is already in revival mode.
Chyne admitted the defections have dealt a major blow.
“Of course, their defection has affected the party to a larger extent. But when they have left the party on their own, we cannot do anything about it,” he said.
He said it is for the electorate to decide whether the eight legislators betrayed the mandate given to a regional party.
“Let the people judge. It is upto the people to judge,” Chyne said.
According to him, the immediate task is to strengthen the party organization, particularly in the eight constituencies left vacant by the defectors.
“We have to find new leaders and candidates to further strengthen the party. It is the duty of the party to gather whoever is there in these constituencies who are with the UDP to work and strengthen the party. We have started organizing meetings,” he said.
Chyne said the desire for a strong regional force still exists on the ground and many, including former members, want to return.
“There are many people who want to join the party, including those who have left the party. They have expressed interest to rejoin. The people I have met want the regional party to be strong in the state. If they want a strong regional party, they have to help contribute to making it strong,” he said.
Asked about Paul Lyngdoh’s comment that Metbah Lyngdoh may be the last man left in the UDP, Chyne said, “For that, you can direct this question to him.”
On Jaintia Hills MDCs, he said, “I think they have given a statement that they will remain with the party.”
On whether three of the defectors will continue as suspended MLAs, he refused to comment, saying, “That is for the Speaker to give his ruling. I cannot comment anything about the ruling of the Speaker. Let us just wait and see.”
On Lahkmen Rymbui taking the UDP’s cabinet berth to the BJP, he said, “That issue they have discussed within the MDA but I am not a part of the MDA. That is a matter for the MLAs to discuss, not ours.”
On whether he sees the defection as betrayal, Chyne invoked former party chief late Dr Donkupar Roy.
“I stand by what late Dr Donkupar Roy taught us. He used to say that he is totally against defection. So all of us, we do not appreciate such defections,” he added.
