Focused on strengthening MDA: United Democratic Party (UDP) chief

Shillong, Aug 30: The spirit of ‘No hard feelings” was explicitly displayed by the members of the Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) after a high pitch electoral battle in the Ranikor constituency.

Five time MLA Martin M Danggo of the NPP was defeated by a political green horn of the UDP, Pius Marwein with a margin of around 3000 votes. Marwein took oath as the member of the Meghalya Legislative Assembly today. The oath of office was administered by the Speaker Donkupar Roy. The newly elected MLA was accompanied by UDP senior workers as well as senior NPP legislators. The camaraderie showed that the bitter fight has nothing to do with the coalition Government led by the NPP.

Speaking to newspersons after the swearing in ceremony, Roy who is also the president of the UDP said, “There is no talks of bargaining for an extra berth in the Ministry nor your perceived notion of trying to cobble a Government in the present Karnatak style.”

“Our focus is to strengthened the Meghalya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government to ensure that it lasts its full term”, categorically stated the UDP president even as he added that the emphasis ahead is to work as a team to bring about all round development in the state.

NPP leader and Cabinet Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar who accompanied the newly elected UDP legislator to the swearing in ceremony stated, “ Yes our candidate may have lost but we are happy that the candidate of our coalition partner won. It is a plus point for our MDA.”

Asked on the loss of Danggo with a stature of being a five time legislator who deserted the Congress and contested as a NPP candidate, Dhar said, “Losing and wining is part of politics.” He also said that the outcome of the by-polls will have no impact on the alliance because the Congress has been annihilated.