HSPDP wants a non-BJP govt in the state, oppose Conrad as new CM

SHILLONG, MAR 5: Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) today expressed its strong reservation against the decision taken by its alliance partner United Democratic Party (UDP) to propose NPP national president and Tura MP Conrad K Sangma as new chief minister.

The central executive committee (CEC) meeting of the HSPDP, which hurriedly met on Monday, also maintained its firm stand for formation of a non-Congress and non-BJP government citing that minus these two national parties, the NPP still has the number.

The decision was also conveyed to the UDP chief Donkupar Roy, who is also the chairman of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) formed by the two regional parties, by the HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit.

“We have met the leadership of the UDP and expressed our disappointment and disagreement as far as the proposal made for chief minister candidate which was taken unilaterally (by the UDP) without consulting us its partner alliance,” Basaiawmoit told journalists here.

Yesterday, the National People’s Party (NPP) had submitted a list of 34 MLAs, including the BJP, UDP, HSPDP, PDF and an Independent, to Governor Ganga Prasad staking claim to form the next government in the state. The HSPDP has two MLAs.

Asked, the former Nongkrem legislator, who was defeated in the just concluded Assembly polls, said that the party is of the view that it is not the job of the RDA to decide who will be the leader in the NPP-led government.

“We did not expect the UDP will propose the name of Conrad Sangma without consulting the HSPDP. But it is not the job of the alliance to advice who will be CM as it is the duty of the NPP to elect the leader,” he said.

Maintaining it is not against Conrad, Basaiawmoit however said, “We would like to see that an elected MLA of the NPP should be the chief minister especially when the party itself had announced the name of Prestone Tynsong earlier for the post.”

“It will be a betrayal to the people of Meghalaya if Prestone Tynsong is not made CM because openly they made statement that he is their CM candidate and on that basis he (Tynsong) left the Congress to become CM of the state,” he said.

He also said that Tynsong himself in his campaigning during the elections had told the people that he will be the chief minister and now this sudden change.

Meanwhile, the HSPDP has also expressed its opposition against the inclusion of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the government stating that because there is a possibility of the NPP to form the government without the saffron party.

“We have expressed our reservation in as far as the BJP is concerned because the stand of the HSPDP since day one is to ensure formation of a non-BJP and non-Congress government in the state,” Basaiawmoit said.

Stating that his party is not willing to be part in any government that includes the BJP, the HSPDP chief said, “This is because we see there is possibility for the NPP along with the RDA, PDF and others to have a non-BJP government in the state.”

Reminding that the present situation is that no government can be formed without the RDA which has eight MLAs of the RDA (UDP-6 and HSPDP-2), he said that the party therefore prefers to have a government led by NPP along with RDA and PDF.

“Because minus the BJP and the Congress, we still have 32 MLAs from the NPP, RDA and PDF, so where is the question of instability,” he said.

Asked, Basaiawmoit said that the matter is still under consideration by its alliance partner the UDP which will intimate its decision very soon.

“Since the UDP has assured to discuss this with its members before taking a call, it would be too early for us to say that our partner has betrayed but we will say now it is just a mistake by not consulting us,” he said.

Whether the party’s legislators will abide by the party’s decision, the HSPDP chief said that the party has communicated its decision to its two MLAs.

“We hope our MLAs will abide by the decision of the party,” he said while informing that the party also decided not to take part in the swearing in ceremony of the new council of  ministers tomorrow.

By Our Reporter