SHILLONG, Oct 11: The conundrum over the United Democratic Party’s candidature from Nongkrem constituency has apparently come to an end with party adviser Bindo M Lanong revealing that the UDP is favouring the idea to project Lambor Malngiang as a party candidate from Nongkrem during the 2023 Assembly elections.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Tuesday, the senior UDP leader lamented that despite being one of the founding members of the party, he has not been given the opportunity to represent Nongkrem constituency in the upcoming elections.
“I doubt if I will get the UDP ticket,” Lanong said, asserting that he will, come what may, contest the Assembly elections from Nongkrem constituency.
Lanong said that if similar situation exists, he will have no other option but to contest as an Independent candidate, while maintaining that he cannot betray his supporters who have been working for him in the constituency.
“Denying ticket to me in favour of an Independent MLA, who has contested elections from two-three parties, surprises me,” the UDP leader said, informing that party leaders like Metbah Lyngdoh and Jemino Mawthoh, in the recent election committee meeting, had expressed that Malngiang’s position is better than Lanong in Nongkrem.
“How come these leaders, who came after me in the party, are taking such decisions,” Lanong questioned, while recalling that in 2008, Jemino Mawthoh along with a group of people had demanded of the then party president Dr Donkupar Roy to allot him the ticket from Nongthymmai Malki, while claiming that the position of Lanong was not favourable.
Lanong also informed that Dr Roy was against the idea of denying ticket to the former.
“I am sad with this stand of the party and I am deserving on merit as I was one of the founding members of the UDP; I have no political scam but the party leadership is favouring Lambor Malniang whose position in the constituency as of now is questionable,” Lanong said, adding that Malniang has not even applied to become the associate member of the UDP.
