Shillong: The United Democratic Party (UDP), still smarting under its defeat in the Meghalaya Assembly elections, has reviewed the poll debacle and vowed to aggressively fight back by strengthening the party.

The resolution was adopted in the party's central executive committee meeting at the official residence of its president and Speaker Donkupar Roy here on Saturday.

The UDP had forged a pre-poll alliance with the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) in the Khasi-Jaiñtia region that has 36 Assembly seats and the Garo National Council in the Garo region that has 24 Assembly seats.

Under the banner of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA), the three regional political parties contested 54 out of 60 seats.

The UDP, HSPDP and the GNC put up 35, 13 and six candidates respectively. However, the UDP and the HSPDP managed to get just six and two MLAs respectively, while the GNC drew a blank.

At present, eight legislators of the RDA support the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance coalition government led by the National People's Party (NPP) with Tura MP Conrad Sangma as the chief minister.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh said they had reviewed the party's poor performance and after hearing views and feedback from party leaders from different constituencies, they inferred that one of the main reasons for the defeat was lack of resources.

Lyngdoh who lost to Mohendro Rapsang of the Congress in West Shillong constituency, alleged that their opponents, especially the Congress, had used money to buy votes.

He alleged that former chief minister Mukul Sangma had launched schemes that helped the Congress, which was in power at that time, to buy voters.

According to Lyngdoh, the Election Commission and police could have done more to prevent use of money.

On the party's preparations for the upcoming elections to the district councils and Lok Sabha next year, Lyngdoh said the party has decided to work aggressively to strengthen the party.

An election committee, headed by the party president, has been set up. A core committee with Lyngdoh as its chairman was also formed to plan, strategise and coordinate.

The core committee will assess the performance of the regional alliance in the just-concluded Assembly polls.

"The alliance has helped in some constituencies, but we will analyse its performance constituency wise and then come out with a report," Lyngdoh said.