PDF vice president resigns in protest against merger move

SHILLONG, May 3: Just hours after Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma formally announced the merger of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), founding member of the PDF and its vice president, James Ban Basaiawmoit resigned from the party on Wednesday in protest against the decision.
Basaiawmoit submitted his resignation to party president Gavin Miguel Mylliem.
Basaiawmoit told reporters he decided to quit as he does not want to be a part of the move of merger.
“I am now left alone. I received information that all CEC members have supported this move,” he said, adding, “This is not an encouraging sign. People will lose faith in the regional forces.”
The chief minister had revealed earlier that the PDF’s merger with the NPP would take place on Saturday, ahead of the by-election to the Sohiong seat on May 10.
With the merger deal sealed, the NPP’s strength in the House will go up to 28.
Reacting to the latest political development, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Vincent H. Pala said the PDF’s merger with the NPP is a short-term “opportunity” to suit the political interests of the two parties.
“I don’t see it as a masterstroke. Both the PDF MLAs (Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin Miguel Mylliem) are seeing it as an opportunity for their personal benefits. Even the NPP views it as a short-term opportunity,” Pala said.
“We will need to see if this merger is welcomed by the NPP MLAs and leaders. I am not sure if this move will be accepted by the people of the constituencies of the two PDF MLAs,” Pala said.
Citing an example, he said the decision of former Congress MLAs HM Shangpliang, George B Lyngdoh, Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang and Mohendro Rapsang had backfired.