Shillong, Aug. 24: United Democratic Party (UDP) president Donkupar Roy today ruled out his resignation from the top post amid growing resentment among partymen following the Laitumkhrah bypoll debacle.

The UDP candidate Malcolm Tariang was defeated by Congress’s Ampareen Lyngdoh over a margin of 2,000 votes in the recently concluded by-election.

A section of the partymen and legislators is also annoyed over the exodus of the party’s members of the district councils both in Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills to the Congress. Several UDP members in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and Jaintia Hills District Council had switched allegiance to the Congress a few days back.

However, speaking to The Telegraph, Roy termed these as a mere temporary setback.

“We will resurrect from the defeat and all the UDP members are united under my leadership,” he said.

According to Roy, the party was passing through a cycle of change. “We will not stay at the bottom forever and we will overcome this phase within two years,” he said.

He said the general council meeting in November would be a forum for the members to discuss the issues related to the change of party’s leadership besides other grievances.

“If the majority feel that I should step down from the party president’s post, I am ready to do so,” Roy said.

He also blamed the Congress for using money power to win the Laitumkhrah seat.

“The UDP is a poor party compared to the Congress which has huge financial resources that resulted in their candidate winning the seat,” the former chief minister said.

On the members of the district councils leaving the party, Roy said the Congress had lured them with assurances.