UDP betters its tally, now Meghalaya’s 2nd single-largest party

Shillong: The United Democratic Party (UDP), the biggest regional political outfit in the hill state, has emerged as the ‘power point’ after the assembly elections by becoming the second single-largest party by winning an impressive 11 seats, three more than what it has in the outgoing assembly.Only behind the National People’s Party (NPP), which increased its strength to 26, the UDP is now certainly the all important party, the post-poll maneuvers of which will decide the formation of government and the political future of Meghalaya. There is already speculation in political circles that UDP will this time stake claim to a larger share in power, having been played the role of a ‘deputy’ in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government in the past five years. “The party has certainly emerged stronger, reflecting aspirations of a large section of the people, especially in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, from where it has got its major share of seats and therefore its responsibilities have also increased, which will be reflected in its political moves,” says a senior citizen and keen observer of politics in the state. “With renewed vigour and hope, the party will endeavour to provide good governance with political and administrative accountability and growth in all sectors to put the state on a higher growth trajectory for the people,” the UDP manifesto had spelt out ahead of the February 27 assembly polls.On the law and order aspect, the UDP also assured to strengthen the police department by filling up the vacancies besides raising a dedicated state border force to handle security at both interstate and international borders besides reviewing the inter-state boundary agreement between Meghalaya and Assam.Reiterating its commitment to pursue implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), the UDP had also asserted the need to implement existing state laws like the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.“We will also continue to impress upon the Union government the need to include the Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India, as per the resolution passed by the assembly,” it had said.