Amid a high-voltage political churn and mounting speculation over a possible realignment of United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators with the BJP, UDP President Metbah Lyngdoh on Monday asserted that the legislators remained with the party and were “happy with my leadership till now”.
He said he had personally met each and every MLA and none had conveyed any intention to leave the UDP.
Talking to Media persons in Shillong, Lyngdoh said, “I have spoken to the party MLAs and not through anyone or not through the third person, they have said there is no problem in the party, so I have to believe them. If anyone have anything which they don’t want to say then it’s not my problem. That’s not my concern. As colleagues, as friends, within the party, I should have the trust and confidence with them, that whatever they say is right.”
Lyngdoh dismissed reports of a possible BJP switch as speculation, saying the earlier visit of nine UDP MLAs to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah was linked to the proposed FCRA amendment.
“So till now whatever is there I don’t see anyone of them are making that attempt to join BJP, they are very much within the party , that is what they have told me each and every one of them. Speculations will always remain as speculation, whatever is happening, whatever is the scenario is as Media reports says some of the UDP MLAs headed to Delhi, since yesterday and day before,” Lyngdoh said.
He added, “Earlier, the nine UDP MLAs who have gone to Delhi to Home Minister Amit Shah was basically on the issue of FCRA, where the ammendment was proposed in the parliament to be passed. But, the meeting was interpreted in a different way.”
He further said, “I have met all the MLAs and none of them have spoken anything with regards to leaving UDP and joining BJP, for me when I have spoken to the right person , to all the UDP MLAs, not through some one , all of them have not come out with any sort of that they will be joining BJP. I read only from the Media reports that those UDP MLAs will be joining BJP.”
On reports of legislators travelling to Guwahati and Kolkata for political discussions, Lyngdoh said Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah and Balajied Kupar Synrem had gone to Kolkata for personal business. “Unfortunately, the media reports today said, that Some of the MLAs have already rushed to Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi, I would like to clarify here that I was informed when we were discussing about four MLAs Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, and Balajied Kupar Synrem who have left for Kolkata who went there for personal business nothing as such political trip,” the UDP Chief said
He said Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Sing Suin and Lahkmen Rymbui were in Shillong. “But in Media reports it was claimed that some of the MLAs have gone to Guwahati to discuss some of the BJP leaders in Guwahati to set up joining of these nine MLAs, whereas those MLAs are here, I couldn’t reach perhaps they are somewhere in the constituency or anywhere we can reach him. Byondstar Kurbah is very much in Shillong, Ollan Sing Suin and Lahkmen Rymbui is here very much. I don’t know who has gone to Guwahati,” the former Speaker said.
Asked whether the MLAs were dissatisfied with his leadership, Lyngdoh said none had expressed such concerns and rejected any suggestion of an organised attempt to create a rift within the UDP, “I had a meeting with all of them and I have asked about this and none of them have expressed anything about their dissatisfaction with my leadership. I never speculate.” He urged the legislators not to become victims of rumours, saying, “I would like to urge everyone including our MLAs also we should never be victim of any kind of Rumours. As of now there is no problem in the UDP because I have spoken to all.”
He added, “Even in a state where a single party is there in the ruling side, they will still have the provinces and they will have problems,” and reiterated, “They are happy with my leadership till now .”
