Shillong, Feb. 1: Former Meghalaya chief minister E.K. Mawlong kicked off the United Democratic Party?s (UDP) election campaign today by releasing the party manifesto.
Mawlong, who is president of the party, said the UDP would attempt to take the controversial deal regarding the Calcutta-based Meghalaya House to its logical conclusion if voted to power. He was optimistic that his party would form the next government in the state.
The UDP, which had contested in 56 of the 60 Assembly seats, has released a list of 50 candidates for the February 26 polls. In the last Assembly elections, the party had won 20 seats.
The UDP manifesto claimed that it would make all efforts to flush out illegal migrants and make provisions for issuing identity cards only to ?genuine? citizens.
The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, a political wing of the Khasi Students? Union (KSU), had made similar claims while releasing its manifesto yesterday.
The UDP president said his party would give priority to maintenance of communal harmony and make peace the yardstick for development. Denouncing the proposed introduction of POTA in the state, the party claimed that it would not allow crime and terrorism to threaten the people of the state.
The other areas where the party has made big promises are to improve the agro-based sector through the introduction of modern techniques. It has also reiterated the need to set up cottage and small industries.
Regarding the vexed boundary disputes with its neighbouring state, the party took the credit for initiating discussions with former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
The border problems ?would be the UDP?s major concern?, Mawlong said. The party would make all efforts in solving the problem and ensuring that the people living near the inter-state border are not harassed.
The party also promised to remove unemployment through tourism development.