We will lead the next govt: Roy
SHILLONG: After former Congress minister from Pynursla K.K Dkhar joined the UDP, sitting legislator and cabinet minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said people like Dkhar becoming active in politics to work for the people was a welcome move. Dkhar joined the UDP at Pynursla on October 10 in the presence of party president Donkupar Roy and others. Dkhar had in January 2015 resigned from the Congress after he was served with a show cause notice by the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee in August 2013 based on a complaint that he was working against the official candidate of the party (Tynsong) ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls. Dkhar, who had served as MPCC vice president, had targeted Tynsong for lodging a complaint against him. Prior to the delimitation, Dkhar who was with the Congress for as many as 26 years had contested and won two times from Nongskhen constituency. However, in the 2013 polls, Dkhar who was denied a Congress ticket chose not to contest the Pynursla seat. In his response to Dkhar joining UDP, Tynsong said, “It is good that he is active in though there were strong opponents, he did not speak ill against his contenders during the campaign, but instead asked the people without any pressure to use their wisdom to choose their representative. Earlier on October 10, the UD Pynursla circle in its annual general meeting welcomed Dkhar to the party and elected Banalari Khongwar as president and Tarny Khonglam as secretary of the circle. It was the newly elected circle president Banalari who welcomed Dkhar to the party fold. Banalari came second when she contested the last 2013 Assembly polls against Tynsong from Pynursla. Dkhar, while assuring to strengthen the party, expressed his dismay over Congress rule and urged the gathering to bring the UDP to power. UDP president Donkupar Roy, while welcoming Dkhar, said that this is a clear indication of things to come. However, he appealed to all the functionaries that as time is approaching for Assembly election, there is a need to mobilize the party at the grassroots level so that the party secures the seat which will add to the tally that will bring a people friendly government in 2018. Roy expressed confidence that with hard work, the UDP will be able to lead the next government. However, Tynsong told reporters on Wednesday that prior to the Assembly polls in 2013, both Roy and Bindo Lanong had predicted that the UDP will form the next government, but in vain. Though UDP has not officially announced Dkhar’s candidature, he is the potential nominee of the party to take on Tynsong in the 2018 Assembly polls. Sohra legislator Titosstarwell Chyne who is also the East Khasi Hills district president of the party, general secretary Jemino Mawthoh, vice president Allantry Franklin Dkhar, and women’s wing president Pretty Kharpyngrope were also present on the occasion.politics after he took leave for many months. It is not that he is my opponent or enemy. He is one of the local leaders of the constituency, born and brought up in Pynursla. May be through his contribution, he can bring development as an active politician. If we all work together, it will be of great help to the people”. Prestone added that during the 2013 Assembly elections,