Ardent quits as HSPDP chief

SHILLONG: Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president Ardent Basaiawmoit tendered his resignation to the party’s vice-president on Tuesday following the HSPDP’s disappointing performance at the recently concluded Assembly election.
He said it was pointless for him to lead the party which could not exercise authority over its MLAs, hinting at the open defiance of two MLAs, Samlin Malngiang and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, who extended support to NPP-led coalition government thereby blatantly ignoring the party’s diktat.
Basaiawmoit was perceptibly unhappy with the HSPDP MLAs becoming a part of the new NPP-led coalition government in the state.
Earlier, the HSPDP leader had voiced his opposition to Conrad Sangma becoming the new chief minister apart from sticking to his stand of extending support to a non-BJP and non-Congress state government.
With two MLAs the BJP is a part of the new coalition in the state.