NONGPOH: The decision of the UDP election committee to allot ticket to Mangkara Pathaw, son of former chief minister JD Rymbai, from Umroi has drawn criticism from supporters who accused the party of betraying them.
First Force Deki Ramsiej, whose name appeared on the party’s first candidate list, convened a meeting at Bhoirymbong on Friday.
Speaking to the media after the emergency meeting, Ramsiej said the decision was not fair and that he and his supporters were not taken into confidence by the top leaders of the party.
Ramsiej lambasted the interference of Umsning MDC Donkupar Sumer in the affairs of UDP Umroi by lobbying for Pathaw. He alleged that Sumer might have received personal benefits from the son of the former chief minister.
“The state leaders of UDP should also review the candidature of Donkupar Sumer as I am sure he is not going to win,” Ramsiej said, adding that the party should consider other winnable candidates from Umsning.
The resentment among a large section of UDP supporters in Umroi is because Pathaw joined the party a week ago but Ramsiej was “instrumental in regaining the support of people, including non-tribals, by forming 72 primary units and 22 sub units”.
“I would have been happy if the UDP state leaders had allotted the ticket in a fair and transparent way by taking leaders of all the units and sub units into confidence,” Ramsiej said and added that there was a proposal to put an observer but that did not happen.
Some of the women supporters of Ramsiej broke down and accused the party of betraying them.
A public meeting will be held soon where all primary and sub units will be invited to take the final decision.
