SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) secretary in charge of eight villages in Mawhati constituency, Krinson Kharbukhi, quit the party to support Independent candidate from Mawhati Julius Kitbok Dorphang, who has been charge-sheeted in a rape case.
Calling the jailed Dorphang as the ‘father of the (Mawhati) constituency’ and ‘father of the poor’, Kharbukhi said they would continue to work for Dorphang even if he is lodged in jail.
Stating that the constituency was represented by an MLA that does “more work” and “less talk”, he said, “We don’t want to change our representative.”
Kharbukhi, who is also the headman of Mawdiengngan, quit the NPP Mawhati camp that has put up Dasakhiat Lamare, the son of Ngaitlang Dhar as its candidate.
Initially, he denied to give the reason for his desertion but later said he was concerned that the constituency may come under the control of Dhar if his son wins the election. Dhar is contesting on NPP ticket from Umroi.
When asked, Kharbukhi said there was nothing wrong for headmen to support a particular candidate. “If he performs his duty as a representative well, then we have to give our full support to such a representative,” he added.
Commenting on the allegations of rape against Dorphang, the headman said, “It is his personal life. It will not affect the constituency.”
Dorphang is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl more than once.
According to him, Dorphang has brought schemes like Special Rural Works Programme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and helped develop a football ground, a police station, a community hall and black-topped roads.
