Egenstar alleges ‘internal rumblings’, quits UDP

SHILLONG, June 26: In a setback for the United Democratic Party (UDP), Egenstar Kurkalang, the party’s East Khasi Hills district general secretary, has resigned from his post and from the primary membership of the party, due to “internal rumblings”.
Kurkalang tendered his resignation in a letter to UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh.
When asked the reasons that made him take the step, Kurkalang said that he was compelled to leave the party due to internal rumblings in the party in Nongkrem constituency.
Kurkalang said he would not like to have a part in the fight for the party ticket.
“I have also witnessed that the people of Nongkrem constituency do not vote for the party. The people look at the winnability factor of the candidate. I am pretty confident that the voters will vote for me this time round,” Kurkalang said.
It may be mentioned that UDP chief adviser Bindo Mathew Lanong is also preparing to contest from Nongkrem constituency. However, the party leadership is keen to award the party ticket to sitting independent legislator Lambor Malngiang to contest from the UDP in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, in another political development, members of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Rangshken area, have decided to leave the party to support former Sohiong constituency legislator HDR Lyngdoh who is likely to contest from the United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket in the upcoming elections.
Albeit the former Sohiong legislator has not formally announced that he is going to contest from the UDP, there are indications that it will eventually come to pass, following his recent resignation the primary membership of the Congress.