Amid growing discontent within the United Democratic Party (UDP), speculation over a possible realignment of its legislators with the BJP and an intensifying debate over the future of regionalism in Meghalaya, newly inducted BJP leader Jemino Mawthoh has defended UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh’s leadership, saying the party’s present internal discontent cannot be attributed solely to its president.
Mawthoh, who worked closely with Lyngdoh during his years in the regional party, credited him with helping the UDP grow from six to 12 MLAs and win by-elections, even as he argued that his own experience of attempting to consolidate regional forces had shown the limitations of such an effort.
At the same tune he asserted that the political narrative in the State is shifting in favour of the BJP.
Talking to media persons in Shillong, Mawthoh said the BJP, which currently has two MLAs, could significantly expand its strength in the 2028 Assembly election by mobilising public support, drawing a parallel with the NPP’s growth from two MLAs to its present strength. “The narratives is also changing. We may have two MLAs now but to say that we will have more MLAs in 2028,” he said while maintaining that he had no ill-feeling towards the UDP and recalled serving as its working president for two years, general secretary for nine years and MLA for five years.
The former UDP General Secretary said efforts to unite regional forces had failed to materialise, while there was now a shift among regional leaders towards national parties. He also said the UDP remained part of the MDA government and suggested that reported discontent among its legislators could stem from dissatisfaction over the government’s performance and their demand for greater respect for MLAs representing different constituencies.
Mawthoh said his relationship with Lyngdoh remained cordial and rejected any attempt to attribute the UDP’s present discontent solely to its president. “Metbah Lyngdoh is a very respectable man,” he said, recalling that they had worked together when Lyngdoh was party president and that the UDP had expanded from six to 12 MLAs and won by-elections during his leadership. Mawthoh said he did not know whether UDP MLAs were happy or unhappy as he had not interacted with them, but had seen reports of their inclination towards the BJP and believed they had their own reasons. He also said that when he was in the UDP, leaders worked together “in tandem” and that he could not explain the sudden disintegration, adding that such developments were present in every political party.
Mawthoh said he had read the BJP constitution before joining the party and maintained that its future in Meghalaya would depend on grassroots mobilisation amid changing public aspirations, perceptions and narratives. He dismissed criticism directed at the BJP as being driven by its opponents and said the party was increasingly receiving calls from different districts from people seeking to join its fold.
“People’s aspiration is changing, perception is changing, narrative so it depends on how BJP work in Meghalaya to go into the grassroots,” he said.
