Shillong, Sept. 11: The president of the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, today reiterated that an alliance forged between his party and the United Democratic Party (UDP) was to ensure that they formed a new government next year without the Congress and the BJP.

On the perception that different parties ruling the government at the Centre and the state would affect the functioning of the state, Basaiawmoit said, 'It would be wrong to say that or have that kind of perception. Any party in power at the Centre, be it the BJP or Congress, cannot ill-treat any state just because a different party rules the state. The ruling party at the Centre has to go by the Constitution and function in the spirit of cooperative federalism.

'I think the government at the Centre would not like the state governments to go and beg from China. A mother would not expect her sons or daughters to go and beg from neighbours,' he added.

The HSPDP and the UDP have forged a pre-poll alliance for 36 Assembly seats in Khasi and Jaiñtia hills, and the UDP has tied up with the Garo National Council (GNC) for 24 seats in Garo hills for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. 'The objective of forming this alliance is to remove the Congress from power and get a non-Congress and non-BJP government. Undoubtedly, the alliance will get a majority,' he said.

Recently, asked if the UDP and its alliance partners were not averse to teaming up with the BJP, UDP senior working president Bindo M. Lanong said, 'We cannot be inimical and we have to maintain links with the powers that be.'

However, the HSPDP president termed Lanong's comment as his 'personal view'.

Asked what would happen if the alliance fell short of majority, Basaiawmoit said, 'If after counting of votes, the alliance needs to work with other parties, the constituents of the alliance will discuss and decide together. But we are committed and confident that we will get the numbers and form the government next year.'

In the current Assembly, the Congress has 30 legislators, including the Speaker Abu Taher Mondal.

The Congress is ruling the state under the leadership of Mukul Sangma as chief minister, with the support of two NCP legislators, and 12 Independents.

The HSPDP chief, who is seeking re-election for the third time from Nongkrem Assembly constituency, said the alliance had been formed to provide a viable alternative to the people of the state.

'We are committed to the alliance and we appeal to the people to support us, because anything we decide is for the benefit of the people of the state,' Basaiawmoit said.

On differences over the seat-sharing agreement between the UDP and HSPDP in a few constituencies, Basiawmoit said the parties have tried to reduce the problem by allowing candidates of the both the parties to contest a few seats.

Stating that problems cannot be avoided as there would be sacrifices and adjustments, Basaiawmoit said the UDP and HSPDP were in the process of reviewing the situation in a few constituencies like in Umroi, Sohïong and Mawryngkneng constituencies respectively.

In the 36 Assembly seats in Khasi and Jaiñtia hills, the UDP will field candidates in 17 constituencies and the HSPDP in 10. However, in the remaining nine seats, both the UDP and HSPDP will field candidates in a 'strategic fight'.