Ardent Basaiawmoit was forced to step down as CEM in 2014 for trying to change customary practices: Grace Mary Kharpuri
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 14: Much fancied party for power, VPP is coming under increasing fire as electioneering for the KHADC polls gets intensified.
On Friday, the attack took a new trajectory with a frontal attack by NPP on VPP supremo Ardent Basaiawmoit’s past. Three-time MDC from Nongshken, Grace Mary Kharpuri recounted why the VPP chief was asked to step down as the KHADC CEM in 2014 because of his bid to change the prevailing Khasi customary practices by pushing the idea of patriliny instead of matriliny.
Basaiawmoit, then an MDC of the HSPDP, was leading the Executive Committee (EC) of the All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) and was forced to step down in September 2014 after months of political uncertainty. The ARPA was an alliance of the HSPDP, UDP, and KHNAM.
He became the CEM on April 8, 2014, and remained in office for six months and 18 days.
During his tenure, he faced criticism over alleged dictatorial style of functioning. There were allegations that he made decisions without consulting the other Executive Members.
Giving more insight into why Basaiawmoit was removed, Kharpuri told an NPP election rally at Nongshken that in one of the meetings of the EC in 2014, he pursued the agenda of using ‘father’s surname’ saying that he intends to do away with the prevailing practice of using the mother’s surname.
“All the EMs opposed this proposal. Finally, the VPP chief was forced to step down because of this issue,” said Kharpuri, who was one of the EMs during the Basaiawmoit-led EC.
She warned of a strong possibility that VPP will again try to bring up the issue of using ‘father’s surname’ if it can form the new EC after the elections. “An attempt to change the prevailing system which has been practiced since time immemorial is really dangerous,” she said.
Coming down heavily on the VPP chief for taking on the Dorbar Shnongs, she said if his party comes to power, it will try to bulldoze everyone.
Terming Basaiawmoit as a “coward”, Kharpuri said Basaiawmoit was the first among the eight MDCs who tendered their resignation since he was afraid of being disqualified because of the dual-post legislation brought by the MDA-led Congress government of former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma.
“It was only the former CEM and sitting MDC of Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, Pynshngain N Syiem who stood his ground and decided to challenge the dual posts legislation,” she said.
How much this tactic of digging up past track record of VPP chief will have bearing on the poll outcome is difficult to gauge. But one thing is for sure the anti-VPP forces will intensify their attack on where it matters in the coming one week before the February 21 polls.