Pre-poll arrangement a panic reaction by Ardent, says Shylla

SHILLONG: UDP MDC H.S Shylla said on Thursday he would resign from the party against his wish as he has no other option.
Claiming that people expressed their resentment when he said he would support Nongkrem MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit, he said, “There are anti-Ardent voices in Nongkrem. People in Nongkrem are angry as they do not want the same MLA. We need policy makers who are at the same time charitable.”
Shylla pointed at a series of events, which he termed as Basaiawmoit’s ‘panic reaction’ as HSPDP lost the Nongkrem seat during the district council by-election, and the party’s weak stand in Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills.
“HSPDP is getting weak in Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills which brought a shift in Basaiawmoit’s stand towards a pre-poll alliance,” he said.
Highlighting the background of the UDP-HSPDP pre-poll alliance, Shylla said in 2016 Basaiawmoit had spoken of post-poll alliance and did not intend on pre-poll alliance.
“He had projected himself during public meetings as the chief ministerial candidate in 2018 as they expected that HSPDP will secure the single largest majority,” he said.
Seats bargain
The UDP leader said Basaiawmoit had heavily bargained with UDP president Donkupar Roy for seat adjustments as the surrounding constituencies of Nongkrem – which include Mawkynrew, Sohryngkham, Mylliem – are allowing HSPDP to contest the seat.
He criticised the ‘bargain’ of Mawkynrew with Mylliem even as Mawkynrew has a sitting UDP MLA but was allowed to be contested by HSPDP. “Here we can perceive that he is insecure and as I said it is a panic reaction,” he said.