SHILLONG, March 4 - National People�s Party (NPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) have stitched an alliance, together with other regional parties, to form the Executive Council in both the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Councils (ADCs.)
The Congress with 10 seats emerged as the single largest party in the Khasi Hills ADC and made a desperate bid to woo the UDP. The party offered the Chief Executive Member�s position to the UDP while trying to stitch the alliance, but the UDP rejected the offer.
UDP president and Meghalaya Speaker Donkupar Roy went with its alliance partner in the Assembly, the NPP. Tentative understanding has been reached that in the Khasi Hills ADC the UDP�s elected member, Teinwell Dkhar would lead the Council.
In fact, the UDP secured lesser seats (six) than the NPP which secured seven seats in the Khasi Hills ADC. Nonetheless, it was decided that the Chief Executive Member�s post would go to the UDP and the party has announced that the CEM�s post would be held by different members on a rotational basis.
The other parties in the alliance include the Hill State People�s Democratic Party and People�s Democratic Front. The alliance has also the support of an independent candidate.
Meanwhile, the choice of Dkhar as the CEM of the Khasi Hills ADC was decided on the basis of his seniority and loyalty. Dkhar is a senior Member of District Council from the UDP and has won the Shella seat for the fourth consecutive time.
Dkhar is also said to be close to the UDP president, who is also a legislator from Shella constituency. He has never changed his party allegiance in the Council, which is known for change of party loyalty without an anti-defection law.
Decision to form the Council in the Jaintia Hills ADC is being taken today. A meeting of the alliance partners is going on at the residence of Roy this evening.
In all likelihood the NPP would head the Council in Jaintia Hills with the support of the UDP. The NPP emerged as the single largest party with 12 seats followed by the UDP with 10. The Congress was routed in the polls securing just four seats.
