Senior VP of NPP resigns

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JULY 11: A veteran leader of the National People’s Party ECB Bamon – a loyalist of late PA Sangma – has decided to quit the party citing it has no future under new leadership of the two Sangma’s brothers – Conrad and James.

The former legislator of the state Assembly had tendered his resignation from primary membership and post of senior vice president before the NPP Meghalaya State Unit president Dr WR Kharlukhion Monday.

The NPP was founded by former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma in 2012 after parting ways from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) just before the last presidential elections. Purno expired in March last year.

“After he passed away I had deeply thought (for past few months) that if my political mentor (Purno) had left the NPP for good forever then who am I to remain in this party, I am nobody, I better leave too,” Bamon told reporters here.

Recalling his 34 years journey with Purno, he said that he had been with former chief minister since 1982 when they were with the Indian National Congress (INC) and when in 1999 when he (Purno) joined the NCP and then founded the NPP.

“I sail through with him till his last breath. All my people and supporters also agreed that without PA Sangma the future of the NPP is bleak,” he said.

Stating that he fails to see any future in the NPP under the leadership of Purno’s son Conrad K Sangma, who is an MP from Tura, he said, “The present day NPP leaders describe it has a big dream but they are day dreaming only.”

“I do not find any new approach or direction in the party for the future development of the people and the state because now it is only for name and fame,” Bamon added.

Claiming that there is a rough weather within the party’s rank and file, he further alleged – “Still many NPP loyalists will follow suit (resign).”

Responding to a query, the former MLA, who is also preparing to contest from Mookaiaw constituency in Jaintia Hills, alleged the present national chief of the NPP lacks direction and said – “His (Conrad) mindset is not clear.”

“They are need (good) political advisers as their reasoning power is not clear,” he continues to assert without elaborating more into his allegations.

Asked whether he was unhappy because the NPP may give ticket to the sitting legislator from Mookaiaw Robinus Syngkon – an independent who is supporting the ruling Congress coalition government, he said, “There are rumours but I’ve plan this (resignation) since few months back.”

Meanwhile, Bamon also informed that he is in the process of finding a new house (political party) and a new leader as well.

“I will contest from the party which I am going to join since NPP have no veteran leaders. Within 12 days, I will sit with my supporters on the new party,” he said.

Again when asked whether it’s clear that he prefer to be a follower and not a leader, he said, “Of course everyone wants to be a leader but a leader also cannot be without followers.”