Dr. Donkupar Roy is a doctorate in economics from North Eastern Hill University,Shillong and worked as a professor for some time before entering politics.

Elected as a legislator for the fifth consecutive time, Roy, the president of the United Democratic Party (UDP), first won the Shella assembly seat bordering Bangladesh as an independent candidate in 1987.

Born on November 10, 1954, Roy's first bid to enter the Meghalaya Assembly was backed by the then Alliance for Reconstruction of Meghalaya, which comprised small parties.

Roy was re-elected in 1993, and then joined the United Democratic Party just before the 1998 state assembly elections. He retained the Shella seat for three consecutive terms on UDP ticket.

He has held several important portfolios in the D D Lapang ministry, including that of health, education, finance and planning implementation before being elevated to the rank of deputy chief minister.