We will fight to preserve party identity: Pyndapborthiaw Saiborne
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The KHNAM is heading for a vertical split over proposed merger with UDP with the group led by general secretary Pyndapborthiaw Saiborne vowing to fight till the last to preserve the identity of the party.
“We are going to fight till the last to save the party from being disbanded,” Saiborne told reporters here on Monday.
While maintaining there was no valid ground for this merger with the UDP, he said the move was initiated by “certain individuals to serve their political interests”.
When asked if he was referring to party president Paul Lyngdoh, Saiborne refused to give a direct reply saying “One would understand to whom I am referring to.”
The KHNAM general secretary’s statement assumes significance since it came ahead of the party’s general executive council (GEC) meeting scheduled on November 26 to decide on the merger of the party with the biggest regional party in Meghalaya.
“Following our opposition only the matter has been referred to the GEC. According to the party constitution, any decision to dissolve the party has to be taken by the GEC,” Saiborne said.
Stating that KHNAM, which was formed in 2001, was not a mere political party, KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum said, “it was an awakening movement with its basic principle and ideology to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people”.
When asked if KHNAM has failed to be true to its ideology since the time of its constitution it has struggle more to be in the Government rather than take up the real issues which affecting the people, Saiborne said that perhaps it is one of the reason that the party has only left with the one legislator in the present Assembly.
It may be mentioned five of the 18 CEC members are opposing the proposed mer move.