Poll panel asks KHNAM to resolve dispute amicably

GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has advised the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) to resolve the “dispute within the party either amicably or else by the orders of a competent court.”
Even as less than two weeks remain for the elections to the two autonomous district councils — KHADC and JHADC — in Meghalaya, a leadership crisis in KHNAM is apparent given that the two factions, one led by North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum, and the other by the party’s president, Pyndapborthiaw Saibon, are fielding candidates separately.
In a letter addressed to Saibon on Thursday, Kaptan Chand, under secretary, ECI, in reference to three letters communicated to it last month, stated “that it seems there is an internal dispute in the party regarding office bearers. You are therefore advised to resolve the dispute within the party either amicably or else by the orders of a competent court.”
Copies of the letter have been marked to Nongrum and the chief electoral officer of Meghalaya.
Internal bickering over the past several months in the wake of two factions claiming to lead KHNAM might affect the regional party’s prospects in the February 27 district council elections.
Party sources told The Shillong Times on Thursday that the apex poll body might not recognise the candidates that are fielded by the two factions for the district council polls if the ECI advice was not paid heed to.
“The case is being taken up by ECI and the commission will take its stand anytime,” a party source said.
Amid uncertainty in the wake of internal leadership crisis, one of the candidates, Thomas Passah, who still holds two posts in KHNAM, is contesting the district council polls from Jaiaw constituency as an Independent. “I am contesting as an Independent candidate as the ECI may not recognise candidates of a party with two leaders. But I still hold the posts of vice-president of the party and president of the state youth wing,” Passah, who filed his nomination for the poll on Wednesday, said.
KHNAM, formed in 2002 as a movement for change, has just Nongrum as the lone MLA in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. The party has over the years been raising its voice against “illegal influx” and expressing concern over the “loss of tribal identity”.
Party sources said that among the key issues of KHNAM that require immediate attention are stopping issuance of fresh trading licence and ensuring that action is taken against non-indigenous labourers without licence.