SHILLONG: The secretary of National People’s Party (NPP) in charge of eight villages in Mawhati constituency, Krinson Kharbukhi quit the NPP to support Independent candidate from Mawhati, Julius Kitbok Dorphang.
Calling the jailed Dorphang as the “father of the (Mawhati) constituency” and “father of the poor”, Kharbukhi maintained that they would continue to work for Dorphang even as he was lodged in jail.
Stating that the constituency was represented by an MLA that does “more work” and “less talk”, he said, “We don’t want to change our representative.”
Kharbukhi who is also the headman of Mawdiengngan, quit the NPP Mawhati camp which has put up Dasakhiat Lamare, the son of Ngaitlang Dhar as its candidate from Mawhati.
Initially he denied to give the reason for his desertion, but later said that he was concern that the constituency may get controlled by Dhar if his son won the election.
It may be mentioned that Dhar was contesting on an NPP ticket from Umroi.
Asked, Kharbukhi said that there is nothing wrong for headmen to show their support to particular candidates as he said, “If he performs his duty as a representative well, then we have to give our full support to such a representative.”
According to him, Dorphang has brought developmental works like Special Rural Works Programme (SRWP), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), football ground, police station, community hall, black-topped roads etc.
Commenting on the allegations of rape against Dorphang, Kharbukhi said, “It is his personal life. It will not affect the constituency.”