The United Democratic Party (UDP) has released a list of 32 candidates for the 2008 Meghalaya Assembly elections. UDP president and Deputy CM Donkupar Roy said after a meeting of the party Central Executive Committee here that his party is planning to put up 56 candidates. The Meghalaya Assembly has 60-members.
UDP spokesman Bindo M Lanong said the party is likely to announce the second list in November. With the UDP releasing its list on Tuesday, the party’s merger move with the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) has gone for a toss. Lanong said merger with the Meghalaya Democratic Party was a closed chapter, but added that the UDP would welcome any MDP members who wanted to join.
He said the UDP was confident of emerging as the single largest party and does not have an electoral understanding with anyone. However, Lanong did not rule out the possibility of a post-poll alliance.
The party has not yet announced candidates in Jirang, Mawlai, Rongram, Mawsynram and Rangsakona constituencies. Party sources said former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader J D Rymbai is likely to contest from Jirang on a UDP ticket. MDP leader D P Iangjuh is likely to be the UDP nominee for Mawsynram.
Lanong said his party will not project any person as its chief ministerial candidate.