Shillong, July 13: KHADC nominated member and former deputy chief minister, Bindo M Lanong, on Friday said he is no longer a member of the United Democratic Party (UDP) since he was never invited by the party leadership to the general council meeting held last year.
According to him, he is yet to decide on whether to join other political parties.
Speaking to reporters, Lanong said, “I don’t mind if you don’t give me ticket for MLA and MP (elections) but I was still expecting them (party leadership) to invite me to the general council meeting (since they had told the media I was still very much in the UDP).”
“I thought if they invited me to the general council, I would surely attend the meeting. I thought I would be the first one to sort things out with everybody but I was never invited. Once you are not invited to the general council meeting that means you are no longer a member of the party,” he said while adding “But this is what since I was never invited, I am no longer a member of the UDP. I am not the one who quit the party but I was sidelined (by the party leadership).”
Lanong informed that due to such development, he as an independent nominated MDC had taken a decision to extend outside support to the NPP’s Pyniaid Sing Syiem-led executive committee.
“I went to inform Titos about my decision because all this while I am sitting with the UDP here despite them not inviting me to the general council and I am no longer UDP member but still I sit with the UDP led by Titos. I informed him that I have extended outside support to the EC led by Pyniaid. He asked me why, so I told him since you have not invited me to the general council so I am no longer a UDP member. And I also convey that your (MLA) candidate from Nongkrem Lambor Malngiang had also extended support to the EC two weeks ahead of me; then they said they will take action against him,” he said.
Justifying his decision to contest against the UDP candidate from Nongkrem in the 2023 Assembly polls, the former deputy chief minister said, “I did not expect that they will allot a party ticket to an outsider. That is why I have decided to go ahead with the motive that if they allot me ticket as insider, its okay as I have started (working) or if they give to someone from the same family, I will sit but since they have given it to somebody, who is from outside the family, how will I decide to sit. Based on that I have decided to go ahead (contesting from Nongkrem constituency).”
“(After seeing statement of Metbah that I was still part of the UDP), in March, 2023 after the elections, I decided to apply ticket for MP elections as a person, who had visited all the districts and rural areas of the Khasi-Jaintia region including Himas, I was two-time MLA, I was 7 times MDCs and was a deputy chief minister of the state – meaning every long innings, I also know traditional heads very well,” he said adding “I though whatever has happened has happened. I decided to apply for a ticket in March (thinking that we should forget whatever happened in Nongkrem). I wanted to contest the parliamentary election so I applied for a party ticket. I had written to the president and general secretary of the party but I never received any reply. I sent a reminder in the month of May requesting them to take a decision on the matter. The MP election is vast and covers 36 constituencies. I also requested the party to give me two weeks’ time to call supporters from all over the region but they never replied to my letter nor the reminder that I sent in May.”
Further, he informed that since time was very limited, he decided to withdraw his request for an MP ticket. “…because even if they decided to allot me a ticket, I will reject it because time is no more for preparing for the elections.”
Lanong also alleged the UDP of betraying its MP candidate Robertjune Kharjahrin.
“I feel pity for Robertjune Kharjahrin. In this era, you cannot compare with the olden times, we are living in modern times and age, so you need to be MLA or MDC. But I know Roberjune was betrayed by the party. So they gave him the ticket. After the results were declared, the UDP got only 40, 000 plus from what it used to get at 1.50 lakh votes in the past,” he said while passing remarks “This (poor performance) reflects the quality of the present leadership (under Metbah Lyngdoh).”
Whether he would join other political parties, the veteran leader said, “There are few political parties who have requested me to join them. (But) you know I stay alone like a bachelor so let’s see after sometime. I will look into all that and then think properly before I jump over to some party. I can’t say anything as of now.”
On reports suggesting that he would be joining the NPP, Lanong however said, “Whatever they speculate whatever they think it’s their right but I have not yet decided as far as I am concerned.”
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