SHILLONG, Feb 11: The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Nongkrem is faced with a political quandary precipitated by the question mark over the selection of a candidate to represent the UDP from Nongkrem constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections.
The decision of the UDP Nongkrem Circle to project Independent MLA, Lambor Malngiang, as the party candidate has not gone down well with party veteran UDP leader, Bindo Mathew Lanong, also contemplating to contest the upcoming Assembly general election from the same constituency.
A discontented Lanong, who is the Chief Adviser to UDP, has questioned as how could few of the close aides of Malngiang decide on the party ticket.
“We need to understand that he (Malngiang) has not even joined as an associate member of the party. At present, he is still an Independent MLA. It will be a major embarrassment if, at the last minute, Malgniang decides not to contest from the party,” the UDP leader said.
Lanong has also said that he has been, for the past six months, laying the groundwork to contest from Nongkrem constituency.
“I am not going to review on my decision to contest the upcoming election at any cost. I will soon convene a meeting to constitute the new body of the UDP Nongkrem Circle,” Lanong said, adding that he is backed by prominent leaders from the constituency to contest the election.
Lanong has, however, contended that it is the prerogative of the party election committee to decide on the matter.
Earlier, the UDP Nongkrem Circle had decided to project Malgniang as the party candidate during a meeting which was attended by party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh and vice president Allantry Dkhar.
During the meeting, UDP women wing president, Pretty Kharpyngrope, was elected as the president of the Nongkrem Circle.