Shillong, July 10: The United Democratic Party (UDP) would soon take a call on the matter related to fielding a common candidate in the upcoming bye-election to Ranikor Assembly constituency.

This was informed by UDP senior working president Bindo M Lanong after a consultative meeting held with PDF chairman Pynshngaiñlang N. Syiem, UDP candidate, Pius Marweiñ and leaders from different political parties of Ranikor constituency on Tuesday.

“We have heard and taken the views of everybody and we will be submitting a report to the party which will take a final call on the matter very soon,” Lanong said after the meeting.

Asked, UDP senior working president said during the meeting there are those who wants that Syiem should be the common candidate and there are those who are in favour of Marwein on ground that he had managed to secure over 9,000 votes in the Assembly polls.

He also said they were also of the opinion that it may be tough for Syiem due to paucity of time and some pointed out that Marwein is may be too young.

“However, all have agreed to the fact that if both (Syiem and Marwein) decide to contest the upcoming Ranikor bypoll, they will not win the seat,” Lanong said.

The bye-election was necessitated after former senior Congress leader Martin M Danggo resigned as member of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on June 21, following the decision of the MDA government to upgrade Ranikor Administrative Unit into a civil sub division.

Danggo, who will be contesting from the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), had defeated UDP candidate Pius Marwein by a margin of 2002 in the February 27 Assembly elections held this year.

On the other hand, Syiem who is also trying hard to project himself as a common candidate for the seat was a former legislator of Mawsynram, the seat he lost to present Congress MLA, HM Shangpliang.

Later while speaking to reporters, Marwein said that during the meeting he along with his supporters had requested the PDF leader to consider supporting the UDP, on the ground that it is having a better chance in the bye-election.

“We have observed that over 17,000 voters are against the former MLA (Danggo) and have voted for the UDP, PDF, NPP, BJP and HSPDP. Therefore, we feel that we have a better chance this time to win the seat,” he said.

Asked on the response of Syiem to this request, Marwein however said, “He (Syiem) would take a call on the matter and he will let us know.”

Stating that the objective of the meeting with leaders of different political parties was to ensure Danggo do not come back as MLA, he said that they have also resolved to take the best decision and ensure there is unity especially among regional parties in the upcoming bypoll.

Earlier, Syiem, who had resigned as KHADC chief, said that after discussing both the plus and minus points, UDP had assured that it would soon take a call on the matter. He however refused to comment when asked what if the UDP decides to go ahead in fielding Marwein as the candidate for the Ranikor seat.