HSPDP turns down UDP’s change of leadership demand
SHILLONG: Ending all speculations, HSPDP has rejected UDP’s demand for change of leadership in the ruling coalition of KHADC which means incumbent CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit will continue to head the ruling coalition — All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) .
Informing this to newsmen after a crucial meeting of the party held here on Tuesday, HSPDP joint secretary Witting Mawsor said the UDP’s demand for change of leadership did not hold much water and the party did not find any plausibl
e reason to replace Basaiawmoit.
He said that the charges brought against the CEM by UDP MDCs cannot be tagged as ‘serious offence’.
“The incumbent CEM (Basaiamwoit) has neither been found to be involved any act of corruption nor his action is posing any threat to the indigenous community. Therefore, we did not find any valid ground to consider the demand of UDP,” Mawsor said.
The HSPDP joint secretary said that the party was totally satisfied with the work being done by Basaiawmoit for overall improvement of the functioning of the Council.
“We hope that the present CEM will continue his good work keeping the interest of the indigenous community in mind,” he added.
Mawsor also urged UDP to respect the decision of the party.
“We would like ARPA to complete its full term,” the HSPDP joint secretary said.
Basaiawmoit, meanwhile, said that the party should not be blamed if the present alliance in the KHADC (ARPA) collapses.
“The present crisis in the Council has arisen due to the demand of UDP for the change of leadership. I will leave to the wisdom of the people to make their own judgement who should be blamed for the collapse of ARPA,” Basaiawmoit said.
The KHADC CEM ruled out of any possibility of EC reshuffle ) “All three parties have sat together before finalising the portfolios. We have allotted the portfolios to the various Executive Members (EMs) after a mutual understanding among the three parties,” he said. Meanwhile, the UDP is expected to meet in the next few days after receiving the official communique from the HSPDP about its decision on the demand of the party.
“The party leadership will have to call the party MDCs since the complaint has come from their side,” UDP working president Bindo Mawthew Lanong said.