By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit said the that party was not against genuine non-tribals though its focus is to protect the interest of the indigenous people of the State.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Basaiawmoit said that contrary to the popular perception, the party is not against non-tribals.
“In fact, I do assist non-tribals in time of necessity,” he added.
Basaiawmoit said when was the chief executive member of the KHADC he had made it clear that genuine non-tribals should not be harassed.
“We are against that section of people who are not the genuine citizens of the State,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said though he used to hate politics when he was with FKJGP, he decided to join politics since he realised that it was only through politics that the aspirations of the people could be fulfilled.
Though he contested in 2003 as an Independent candidate from Nongkrem, he could not win the seat. His opponent was the then KHNAM member Lambor Malniang who emerged as the winner.
Regional parties
While majority of the former FKJGP members came together and formed a new political outfit christened People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Basaiawmoit decided to join UDP since he considered that only regional parties can fulfil the aspirations of the people of the State.
The HSPDP supremo said he left UDP prior to the 2008 Assembly polls since the party had decided to allot tickets to non-tribals in Garo Hills.
He said though several political parties approached him, he finally decided to join HSPDP due to its ideology which was to empower indigenous people.
“HSPDP was not only the oldest political party, but also the cleanest under the leadership of Hopingstone Lyngdoh,” he said.
Basaiawmoit also made it clear that it is a misconception that he was cosing up to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. “Since I used to meet the chief minister to pursue many development schemes, this should not be construed that I am very close to the CM,” he said.
Pre-poll alliance
The HSPDP president said if the party does not go for pre-poll alliance, it will spoil the dream and expectations of people as they wanted the regional parties to be in power in the next election. “Our attempt in forging pre-poll alliance is to have a
regional party government in the state and by all means we want a non-Congress and non-BJP government in the State after the polls to provide clean governance.”
He said that there should not be any misunderstanding among legislators of both HSPDP and UDP regarding pre-poll alliance.
“This is for the first time that the two regional parties are coming together for an alliance before the Assembly polls. Our intention is to ensure that the votes should not swing in favour of other political parties,” he said.
To a question whether Nongkrem MDC HS Shylla will be a threat to him in the Assembly polls, the HSPDP leader said he was prepared to face the threat from any quarters.
Shylla is planning to contest the Nongkrem seat from PDF. “Everybody is a threat. In polls, I never underestimate anyone,” Basaiawmoit said.
Election agenda
While the committee of the regional parties will finalise the common minimum programme, Basaiawmoit said the party has its own agenda like the need to introduce ILP, clean and corruption-free governance and opposition to railways, among others. He said the party is getting tremendous response from several parts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills.“HSPDP will surprise many in the upcoming polls considering the response from the people,” he said.
Clean politics has relevance
Basaiawmoit, who won the Assembly polls twice from 2008 and district council polls in 2014 said it was through clean politics campaign that he and his party won many elections.
He said that clean governance is a gradual process and no one can expect changes overnight.
The HSPDP leader said money power cannot win the election as hard work is the only key to victory.
To a question, the HSPDP leader denied any autocratic behaviour on his part and added that HSPDP is the most democratic party.
‘I was elected president of the party unanimously in the general meeting,” he said.
Basaiawmoit also said that every decision is taken by the Central Executive Committee of the party and not a single decision is taken unilaterally.