SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) may issue showcause notice to its four members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for defying the party’s decision to withdraw support to the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF).
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh told The Shillong Times on Thursday that the Central Executive Committee will soon decide on the fate of the MDCs.
The four MDCs who extended support to the P.N Syiem-led coalition in the Council are Teinwell Dkhar, UDP’s parliamentary leader in the KHADC, Donkupar Sumer, Albinus Lyngdoh and Equator Nongrang.
“I had never expected that our MDCs will take a U-turn and I don’t know the reason for this,” said Mawthoh.
UDP’s working president Bindo Lanong, who expressed shock at the development, said on Thursday the four MDCs should be expelled from the party.
“I am shocked especially of the person who was part of the House Committee, Teinwell Dkhar who knew about the misappropriation. How can he and the other MDCs still stick with P.N Syiem even after the decision of the CEC that was taken after four-and-a-half hours of discussion,” said the veteran politician and added that the MDCs are after power.
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When pointed out that the MDCs referred to his stand when he supported then CEM H.S Shylla, who was in the Congress, Lanong said, “There was nothing like that. When did such an incident take place? Let them bring out the evidence. Can they prove? If they really want schemes and power from P.N Syiem, they can go ahead but they should not make any excuses. These are all lies.”
Lanong also pointed out that the MDCs were present when the decision to withdraw support was taken and by saying they were not aware of it, the four members “are misleading people”.
The MDCs claimed on Wednesday that they were sidelined by other members of the party when the decision was taken. They also said the party cannot interfere in their decision as the Council is an autonomous body. When asked on Syiem’s statement that UDP will face threats from MDCs and that Neil Antonio War will contest against him in the 2018 election, the UDP working president said, “There is no threat and after my 40 years of political career, why should I feel threatened?”
Criticising Syiem for not acknowledging UDP’s unanimous decision, Mawthoh said, “The CEM should know that he is a party-less man and he should understand how a party functions and how he should contain his members when he will float a new party.”
Syiem had claimed the MDCs were not unanimous in the party’s decision. But Lanong said 99 per cent unanimity was there that the six UDP MDCs would withdraw support to PDF.
He, however, expressed gratitude to UDP MDCs from Nongkrem and Nongpoh, H.S Shylla and Rona Khymdeit, respectively, for abiding by the party’s decision.
