Adelbert power play ‘surprises’ KHNAM chief

SHILLONG: Pyndap Saiborne, the president of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), expressed surprise at the move of MLA Adelbert Nongrum to stake claim as party chief.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Saiborne condemned the action and termed it as “illegal and baseless”.
“His (Nongrum’s) action is unacceptable. When was the new office bearers elected, where and when was the press release issued,” he said.
Nongrum is the working president of the party. But a letter from the Election Commission recognized him as the head of the party.
However, Saiborne said Nongrum had deceived the Commission because the present central executive committee has not been dissolved.
He pointed to Article 10 of the party’s constitution that states that office bearers are elected at the general convention.
Saiborne asserted that members of the central executive committee still have confidence in him as the president and want him to throw the gauntlet at the general convention.
“It is deceiving. On our part, we will not recognise the new CEC since it is fake. He has misled the Election Commission of India,” he said.
When asked, Saiborne said differences with Nongrum started over selection of candidates for Jaiaw and Pynthorumkhrah constituencies.
“The KHNAM will decide to approach the Election Commission and file a complaint (against Nongrum) that he misled the Commission,” Sairborne said but maintained that there was no rift in the party.
Nongrum, after claiming to be the party chief, had rejected the candidates chosen by Saiborne and named his own candidates.