HPSDP members resign

SHILLONG, APR 16: In a setback to the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), active party leaders and workers from Mairang constituency resigned from the party stating that they took this decision because of the “dictatorial attitude” of the HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit.

“Over 4000 including leaders and party workers have decided to quit the party as they are not happy with the style of functioning of Basaiawmoit,” former HSPDP Mairang unit chairman Etelan Myrthong told reporters on Saturday.

He said the party workers were never informed about the decision to dissolve the Mairang unit and it was only in a meeting held on April 13, Basaiawmoit came and announced the names of the new office bearers, the action of which is in violation of the party’s constitution.

“Moreover the party workers who attended the meeting were also forced to accept the decision taken by the central executive council (CEC) as it is,” Myrthong said adding “Basaiawmoit had even stated that if anyone who doesn’t accept the decision is free to leave.”

According to him, soon after this, there was huge chaos in the meeting and later everybody decided to leave from the meeting. “We were not allowed to raise our concern and to seek clarification on the reason behind the decision taken without the consent of everybody,” he added.

Myrthong further alleged that the party president had failed to take the views and opinions of the majority with regards to the official candidate, who will be contesting the upcoming state assembly elections.

“Basaiawmoit wanted to field one Alexander Kharsyntiew as the official candidate which was against the wish of the majority, who collectively proposed the name of Councellor Sing Wahlang,” he added.

Kharsyntiew was recently appointed as the new president of the HSPDP Mairang constituency unit along with 6 other office bearers.

Stating that the action by the president has disappointed party workers, Myrthong said, “Kharsyntiew is a former leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and was given the post as well as declared as official candidate despite of him joining the party only recently.”

“In fact all the new office bearers have joined the party recently. They were never members of the party during the last 2014 district council elections,” he added.

The others who have quit the party include president of Nongthliew Unit Phlastingji Kurbah, member Scholar Kurban, general secretary of Mairang Mission Unit Skhembor Nongrum.- By Our Reporter