UDP may be left with 1-2 MLAs, I am consulting supporters: Paul on his next move

Shillong, SEPT 25: Senior UDP legislator from West Shillong Paul Lyngdoh on Friday predicte that the United Democratic Party may be further reduced to just one or two MLAs and said he has begun consultations with his supporters before taking a call on his political future.
Reacting to the recent joining of 8 UDP MLAs with the BJP in Delhi, Lyngdoh launched a scathing attack on the party leadership for being in “denial mode”.
“I have spoken many times inside the party that there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the way the party functions and is run, but what is sad is that from the side of the party leadership there is a denial mode where they simply deny that there is nothing wrong, that we are all running together, we are united, we are happy with the functioning,” he said.
“So this incident clearly shows that under the current president’s leadership of the party in three years we see that the party which had 12 out of 36 seats in the Khasi-Jaintia sector is left with 4 and from those 4 also the signs indicate that it may come down to just one,” he added.
The veteran leader warned of more desertions. Asked if more MLAs will join other parties, he said, “As far as I have received information I have not heard anything like that as of now but the signs indicate that there are MLAs who will go to other parties.”
Taking a swipe at internal politics, he said, “Those who push forward that ideology should first push one goal and instead of pushing one goal they tackle their own teammates then it won’t work.”
On speculation that he himself will join the BJP, Lyngdoh said he is seeking mandate from his constituency.
“There is no need for allegations or speculation but as a leader and an MLA elected by the people I am now at the stage where we are consulting and seeking opinions from the supporters of the UDP West Shillong constituency because these developments have reached a point where as I indicated now that the party may be left with only one or two MLAs so we have to take a stand on how we will move forward from here,” he said.
Asked if he will stay with the UDP, he said, “I am still telling you now that there is still consultation going on it will take time because we are still listening to the views from all the leading functionaries.”
Lyngdoh said the exodus was inevitable.
“There is no surprise at all because for one year now we have seen the signs of the rift, whenever we give advice whenever we talk they say there is nothing like that why do you bring up such a topic for discussion meaning this is inevitable it is bound to happen,” he said.