Shillong: United Democratic Party (UDP) president and Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday said the party was working to address doubts and misunderstandings among its elected members amid speculation that some MLAs could join the BJP.
Lyngdoh said the party had held a meeting to discuss the issue and acknowledged that the possibility of some MLAs switching parties had been under consideration.
“As a party we had a meeting and it is understood that to whatever extent things were very much there under the consideration of those MLAs who wish to join the other political party,” he said.
However, he maintained that the reports remained speculative, with no clear decision communicated by the MLAs.
“For me, I consider it like this, it is neither true nor false. So it is half truth, I should say,” Lyngdoh said.
The UDP president said he had been meeting the MLAs individually and that the party had not encountered any significant dissatisfaction with its leadership or functioning. He said one or two MLAs had also openly stated that they had no issues with the party or its leadership.
Asked about the support of the UDP’s 12 MLAs, Lyngdoh said he considered all of them to be part of one party and rejected the idea of dividing them into groups supporting or opposing him.
“We are under one umbrella, we are under one roof and we are under one party,” he said.
On reports that eight UDP MLAs could leave the party, Lyngdoh said the legislators had not made their intentions clear or indicated when they might join another party.
“So far from them also, they have not been able to be very clear whether they will join today, join tomorrow or not. So let’s wait for the time only,” he said.
Lyngdoh said the party would continue engaging with the legislators to address any concerns, adding that any decision to switch parties would ultimately have to be taken by the individual MLAs.
He also confirmed that one UDP MLA had made a public statement against the party, which the leadership had taken note of.
“Yes, one of the MLAs of the party have given some statement which is very much against the party and we have taken note of it and we will sit and see what decisions as a party we will take,” he said.
Lyngdoh declined to identify the MLA, saying the reporter was already aware of the statement.
Also Read: Explained: A year after Zubeen Garg’s death, what would justice look like?