SHILLONG:
The highly-anticipated poll battle in Nongkrem constituency will witness a clash between two candidates of the same party – the United Democratic Party (UDP) but with a twist.
While ex-Nongkrem MLA Lambor Malngiang who joined the UDP on January 18 has been declared the official candidate of the party, he will at the same time, be going up against his senior colleague, Bindo Mathew Lanong, who will contest the upcoming polls from Nongkrem as an independent candidate under the banner – UDP-Original.
Aside from Lanong, Malngiang will put up a good fight to prevent his seat from being snatched away by either the Voice of the People Party (VPP) or the National People’s Party (NPP), who will be represented by ex-legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and cabinet minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare, respectively.
Malngiang, on Wednesday, said that the party has done a proper survey and considering the fact that he has been with the people for more than 20 years, the UDP deemed it fit to allot him the ticket.
Meanwhile, senior party leader Bindo M Lanong said the induction ceremony on Wednesday was a mere announcement of the decision that was already taken.
“They (party leadership) had made up their minds way a long time back. In front of me and my people, who went to meet as a delegation, they had plainly and candidly explained that Lambor’s position is better,” Lanong said.
Undeterred by the UDP’s decision, Lanong said he will go ahead with his decision to contest the election from Nongkrem as an independent candidate.
“My status will be independent but the name of the party will be UDP-O as in ‘Original’. UDP is my baby; I was there when it was formed in 1997. The present leadership were not even part of the formation, they came 10 years after,” he justified.
He further informed that during a meeting held at Laitkor on Monday, his supporters approved of him, contesting the election.
He further claimed that the decision to field Malngiang was taken only by a few leaders and not the majority. “There are many members and seniors of the party who are not in favour of the leadership’s decision but since it is election time, they do not want to create any controversy,” he added.
Reacting to a query on whether a divided house of the UDP will leave the party in a disadvantageous position, Lanong replied in the negative, adding that it is only temporary as he considers reunifying the party once the elections are over.
“I will consider amalgamating and reunifying with the UDP. I don’t want to break the party and it is not my wish to leave but I was ignored,” he said.
Justifying the party’s decision of choosing a newly-joined member over a veteran leader, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said, “This was a decision which we had taken collectively. We have reiterated that this is not a decision of the president or the secretary but of the state election committee that comprises senior party leaders, and district leaders from different constituencies. We have to think about the winnability and the number game but not compromise on the quality.”