Mawphlang MLA becomes UDP’s associate member

Shillong, May 29: Independent MLA from Mawphlang constituency, Syntar Klas Sunn has associated himself with the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Sunn who retired as chief engineer of the state PHE department, successfully conducted the Assembly polls held on February 27, where he defeated Congress MLA, Kennedy C. Khyriem.

Earlier, Sunn did not attach himself either with the ruling coalition Meghalaya Democratic Alliance or the opposition Congress in Assembly.

But on Tuesday, Sunn was welcomed into the UDP fold by its president and Assembly Speaker Dr Donkupar Roy at a short meeting which marked Sunn’s attachment with the party as associate member.

The anti-defection law bars members of State Assemblies or Parliament who have been elected on political party ticket as Independent from joining another party. However an Independent member can associate with any political party.

The UDP which is part of the coalition MDA government being led by the National People’s Party (NPP), has only six MLAs in Assembly. With Sunn becoming the UDP’s associate member, it will boost the strength of the party.

Sunn told reporters that his decision to associate with the UDP, being one of the oldest and biggest regional political parties in the state was to provide him more space since as an Independent legislator, it would not be easy to bring the needed development in the constituency.

“After a careful thought, I find that the best party would be the UDP. Therefore I decided to associate with the party to ensure development not only in my Mawphlang constituency but in the state as a whole,” he said.

Sunn made it clear that his association with the UDP does not mean that he was desperate to be in power.

But the Independent MLA on the other hand, stressed the need for working together of regional parties in the state for the development of the state as “this has been missing for a very long time.”

The UDP president also appreciated Sunn for associating with the party, adding that the party’s morale has been further boosted.

Talking about unity among regional parties, the Assembly Speaker also said, “the aim of the UDP is to bring unity among the regional political parties so that the dreams and aspirations of late leaders to have a government led by regional forces would be achieved in the state.”