UDC To Revisit Ticket For Lerala/Maunatlala Constituency

Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Tuesday July 4, 2017 16:21

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) will need a new candidate, after Setlhabelo Modukanele, recently retraced his steps back to the ruling party.

Modukanele, a retired government official, who had garnered 4,115 votes at the 2014 general elections as an independent candidate against the eventual winner, Prince Maele (6,356) of BDP, has traced his steps back to the BDP, only a year after joining the BMD.

Modukanele, according to information sourced by The Monitor has already twice written to the BDP to rejoin the party, promising that he would be returning home with the over 4,000 voters he had garnered in the 2014 general elections where he stood as an independent candidate after losing to the incumbent in Bulela Ditswe.

The return of Modukanelo to the BDP complicates relations in the UDC, which had allocated Lerala/Maunatlala constituency to the BMD on the basis that Modukanele, who had at the time of UDC constituency allocation, joined the BMD.

He was number two at the polls, while BCP candidate, Montwedi Mokhurutshe was third with 1,147 votes. A number of people told The Monitor that they are of the feeling that since the factor that influenced the decision to award the constituency to the BMD is no more, it is only logical that the UDC returns to the table to address the new dynamics in Tswapong North. BCP vice president, Dr Kesetegile Gobotswang refused to state the party’s position saying if there is any, it is the UDC that should first hear of the development and have a say and not get it first through the media.

Retracing his steps, Modukanele also leaves the BMD with a headache as to who is to field in his vacant place for the 2019 general election where the tried and tested strength of the former is now no more.