GUWAHATI: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has pledged to regroup in the wake of the “debacle” in the recently-concluded autonomous district council elections, in which it failed to win a single seat.
Even as the finger can be pointed to the “leadership crisis” for the poor show, with the existence of two factions, one led by North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum and the other by the party’s president, Pyndapborthiaw Saibon, there is room for serious introspection.
“The problems in the party will be addressed accordingly at the right forum and we believe that it is never wrong to correct mistakes and regroup for a good cause,” Saibon told The Shillong Times on Monday.
All the eight candidates fielded by the party lost while two others from the party, who contested as Independents in the wake of rivalry within, also could not make it to the top.
KHNAM had won four seats each in 2009 and 2014 ADC polls, apart from winning one seat in the 2018 Assembly election.
There was confusion regarding the legitimacy of the candidates fielded for KHNAM by Adelbert in the run-up to the ADC polls, which however was claimed to be cleared later.
Saibon had to field two candidates as Independents in a bid to avoid any controversy, even as there was a “tussle” for the party symbol (dao) between his candidate, Thomas Passah and Strong Pillar Kharjana, the candidate fielded by Nongrum representing Jaiaw constituency.
“We have contested all the elections without spending money. Internal party disputes have been a major obstacle in the district council election, besides use of money power. As leaders of the party we hope that one day we can strengthen the party and work for the welfare of the indigenous tribes of the state,” he said.
Reflecting on the outcome, Passah, who is the president of the party’s state youth wing, said, “I opted to contest as an Independent with the hope that the issues within the party would be settled. However, that was not to be. But I respect the mandate of the people with an assurance to contest again. Winners are not only those who win but also those who never quit.”
“It is sad there was an effort to mislead voters of my constituency that I would join BJP if I win the election, which is completely false and baseless,” he alleged.