Shillong, Dec 15: Leaders of the two regional political parties made a clarion call to the people to give regional parties a chance to rule the state while expressing concern over the floating of more new regional political parties, and influence of money power in the state.

These concerns were expressed at the closing function of the golden jubilee celebration of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) here on Saturday.

The HSPDP, an oldest regional political party in Meghalaya was founded by former Deputy Chief Minister, late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh on November 10, 1968 when Meghalaya was under Assam.

Addressing the gathering, Assembly Speaker and President of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Donkupar Roy lauded HSPDP for having completed 50 years as a political party in the state and praised leaders of the party who had contributed a lot for the state under the leadership of late Lyngdoh, especially during the Hill State Movement which led to the formation of a separate Meghalaya state by carving out of Assam.

Talking about the need to strengthen regional parties in the state, Roy expressed concern over the exodus of leaders and elected representatives who have been groomed in the party.

He called on leaders of regional parties especially the HSPDP and UDP to remain with the party and work for the betterment of the state by up keeping ideas and principles of the party in sync with the aspirations of the people of the state.

Roy cited how regional parties in other states like Mizoram and in South India emerged strongly and helped in projecting the identity of the people of the state in a better way than national parties.

Roy said that people in the country now came to know that Mizoram is being ruled by the people of Mizoram now after the Mizo National Front (MNF) stormed back to power after the defeat of the Congress there.

He also talked about the menace of money power in the state that has been able to influence the voters over the years, and urged regional parties to united fight against such evil forces to strengthen democracy.

The UDP leader also urged the regional parties to remain united and work together with mutual understanding to achieve the common goals of serving the people of the state.

Earlier, former chief Minister and former Congress leader, D.D Lapang addressed the gathering and praised the leadership of late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh who had steered the wheel of HSPDP as a strong regional party in Meghalaya and prior to the creation of the state.

Lapang who has now joined the National People’s Party (NPP) recalled how Lyngdoh fought as a leader during the Hill State Movement and strongly opposed the creation of Meghalaya as a sub-state then.

HSPDP president, K.P. Pangniang highlighted in brief the history of the HSPDP under the leadership of late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh and how the party had worked for the state by also producing a number of leaders including elected representative which include members of district councils, MLAs and Members of Parliament.

He said that 36 MLAs were elected from the HSPDP, besides 59 MDCs and two MPs.

Pangniang said that just like the slogan “No hill state no rest” that echoed during the Hill State Movement, it is now time to come up with another slogan that is “No formation of regional parties-led government no rest” and the state should have a government run by regional parties.

“We hope that the mandate of the people will be in favour of the regional parties in the upcoming district council elections. National parties think about national agenda whereas regional parties put their first priority for the people of the state,” Pangniang said.

Expressing concern over the absence of boundary between Meghalaya and Assam, the HSPDP leader also talked about the need to create a separate Khasi Jaiñtia State.

Others who spoke on the occasion include PHE minister, Samlin Malngiang in the presence of former leaders of the party including those leaders who had joined other political parties.

A bust of Hoping Stone Lyngdoh was unveiled by the Assembly Speaker, and around the bust, the names of office bearers of the HSPDP have been in-scripted right from the time the party was founded till date.