UDP-KHNAM sign ‘demand’ agreement
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Even before the KHNAM General Council Meeting on Saturday, the UDP and KHNAM had already penned down the agreement which would open the door for the merger.
“We have already signed one agreement with KHNAM in order to pave the way for the merger. This agreement is for accommodating the various important issues of KHNAM in the manifestoes of UDP,” UDP working president Bindo M Lanong told The Shillong Times here on Sunday.
He also said that there is actually not too many differences between both the parties.
“But definitely, there would be some issues which are specifically connected with KHNAM,” the UDP working president said.
Meanwhile, he informed that the other part of the agreement which they have signed is to adequately accommodate the members of KHNAM in the UDP.
Replying to a query, Lanong admitted that KHNAM has demanded for the post of the working president besides a host of other posts in the party.
“I do not think this would be a major problem. We can always create posts for two working presidents,” the UDP working president said, while adding that the leaders of both parties should share the responsibilities.
Earlier, KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh had informed that they had demanded for the post of working president cum spokesperson to be given to KHNAM including the post of assistant general secretary and chief organiser of the youth wing.
Lanong also maintained that the KHNAM members would be fairly treated including in sharing of portfolios.
When asked if there is any mechanism in place to prevent any kind of tussle between the leaders of the two parties in the allotment of party tickets for the upcoming 2013 Assembly election, he said that the UDP has constituted a State Election Committee (SEC) which would look into the whole issue of allotment of party tickets for upcoming election.
He said that the person who would have best the chances to win the election would be given the ticket whether he is from the UDP or KHNAM.
The KHNAM General Council had adopted a resolution of merging with the UDP during its meeting held here on Saturday. More than two-thirds of the members who attended the meeting voted for the resolution for the KHNAM-UDP merger.
The General Council has also adopted for dissolution of the party to pave the way for the merger.
Meanwhile, the UDP working president also appealed to the various leaders of KHNAM who are against the proposed merger, especially its general secretary Pyndapborthiaw Saiborne and its MDC Adelbert Nongrum, to join the UDP.
Replying to a query, Lanong said that they would soon fix the day to formally welcome the KHNAM members into the UDP fold.