Shillong, Jan 31: The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) will soon decide on whether to field a candidate from Ranikor constituency, after its official candidate Martin M Danggo decided to soon join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the February 27 assembly elections in the state.

President of the NPP’s South West Khasi Hills District, Kitboklang Nongrem, told reporters that the party will immediately call for a general meeting at Rangthong on February 2. “The meeting will be to reconstitute the party and to decide on the candidate. In the next few days, Danggo will give his resignation but we cannot wait as we need to take action early…,” he said.

Stating that Danggo has yet again betrayed the NPP, Nongrem said this is not the first time that the former five-time legislator had deserted the party. “When we were planning to contest the MDC by-election after the demise of N Marwein that time he (Danggo) again went back to the Congress. After that, he came back to the party. We didn’t expect that such an incident would take place and that he would betray us again,” he said.

According to him, the state leaders have tried very hard to convince Danggo to stay in the party but he refused to pay heed to their request and has finally decided to jump to another political party.

Nongrem also categorically denied the allegation made by Danggo’s leader Pelcy Snaitang that the party leaders are supporting the United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Pius Marwein as they do not want the former Assembly Speaker to win from Ranikor.

“There is no fact (in Snaitang’s allegation) that me and my team are trying to campaign against Danggo in this coming elections,” he said while clarifying that “the message (Snaitang was referring to) was just a text (or debate) in a whatsapp group between me and one PS Lyngdoh who had alleged that all 36 MLAs of Khasi-Jaintia Hills are useless.”

When asked if he is ready to contest the election from Ranikor, Nongrem however said it will depend on the party leaders and supporters but he cannot say anything since “the party is not his personal property”.

He further added, “We also have so many leaders in my team and ultimately we will take decisions as per suggestions and advice from leaders of the different polling station committees.”

Nongrem also admitted that Danggo’s betrayal will no doubt affect the party in Ranikor constituency. “We cannot deny the fact that if the family is divided it will affect both sides – NPP and Danggo,” he said.