All Regional Parties Alliance to form new EC in KHADC
SHILLONG: Decks have been cleared for HSPDP vice president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit to become the next KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) following his election, unanimously, as the chairman of the newly-formed All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) on Friday evening.
The Alliance will meet District Council Affairs Minister HDR Lyngdoh on Monday to initiate the process for formation of the next Executive Committee in the KHADC led by HSPDP and supported by UDP and KHNAM.
Basaiawmoit was elected chairman during a meeting of the MDCs of the three regional parties – HSPDP, UDP and KHNAM – which was also attended by Independent MDC from Mawhati, James Sylliang. The meeting held at the residence of UDP president Dr. Donkupar Roy in Shillong also resolved to form the new Executive Committee under the All Regional Parties Alliance, its new chairman, Basaiawmoit, informed after the meeting.
ARPA which boasts the support of 18 MDCs including seven from HSPDP, six from UDP, four from KHNAM and one Independent, has sealed the fate of Congress which is incapable of forming the EC in the KHADC despite having emerged as the single largest party winning ten seats, two more than its 2009 tally.
Basaiawmoit, further, informed that the modalities of sharing of power in the KHADC, especially the share of each regional party in the posts of Executive Member (EMs), have already been worked out in the meeting.
He, however, refused to divulge any details of how the portfolios have been shared.
The HSPDP vice president also indicated that ARPA will come up with a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) incorporating important issues highlighted in the manifestoes of all the regional parties.
“There won’t be any difficulty in coming up with the CMP since issues raised by the regional parties are almost identical,” Basaiawmoit said, adding that problems could have arisen had they been working with the Congress.
The ARPA chairman also dismissed any possibilities of an agreement among the allies compelling them to remain with the Alliance for the next five years.
“The oath they have taken to serve the welfare and interests of the people as public representatives is enough to keep them in the Alliance,” said a confident Basaiawmoit.