SHILLONG: The People’s Democratic Front, a new political entrant, eclipsed the fate of the P.N Syiem-led Executive Committee of KHADC on Monday when regional parties withdrew their support to the KHADC coalition stating that “more time was spent on strengthening the ‘Front’”.
The three members each from UDP and HSPDP and a KHNAM member pulled out of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) coalition.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, parliamentary leader of UDP Teinwell Dkhar said the party has supported the coalition from time to time based on issues plaguing the indigenous people.
“But with time, it became apparent that the support is only to blackmail us as the People’s Democratic Forum will turn into People’s Democratic Front (PDF),” he added.
Dkhar was among the four UDP MDCs who had defied the party’s decision to withdraw support to the coalition in April.
The jolt to the KHADC came a day after reports that the Congress was trying to oust the Executive Committee led by Syiem.
It was assumed that the UDP members were unlikely to support the Congress as in the past its president Donkupar Roy had said the party desired that the Syiem-led EC completes its full term.
However, Dkhar clarified that they would not work with the Congress in the opposition.
Donkupar Sumer, another rebel UDP member, said on Monday, “People don’t want to see another political party that will divide the regional parties giving an upper hand to the national parties.”
He accused the CEM of interfering in the constituencies of other MDCs. “There was interference in all matters,” he said but did not give details.
HSPDP member Samlin Malngiang said Syiem has forgotten the interests of the Council and demanded that the KHADC needs a full-time leader.
The parties also accused Syiem of dividing the regional parties. “There is an attempt by him (Syiem) to divide the regional parties in the KHADC,” Dkhar said.
Earlier in the day, in a separate press conference, KHNAM working president Adelbert Nongrum said the coalition spent more time on how to strengthen another regional party, the People’s Democratic Front.
“Time is consumed in strengthening the ‘Front’ rather than the ‘Forum’ and the interests of the people are sidelined,” he said.
He alleged that MDCs have misused the District Council only to pave their way for Assembly elections.
