Ardent attacks UDP, crack surfaces in ARPA

**KHADC CEM Ardent Basaiawmoit speaking to reporters on Monday. Pix by WT Lytan**

SHILLONG, MAR 24: Cracks within the regional parties’ alliance All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is becoming apparent as the chief executive member (CEM) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit accused the United Democratic Party (UDP) of back-stabbing by including the district council issues during the Lok Sabha election campaigns by the UDP’s candidate Paul Lyngdoh.

Earlier, the UDP had said that the Lok Sabha polls will have no bearing on the alliance between the HSPDP, UDP and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) arrangement in KHADC.

It may be mentioned that the HSPDP and KHNAM has refused to accept Lyngdoh’s candidature as the common candidate and instead decided to extend their support to Independent candidate PBM Basaiawmoit.

Basaiawmoit told reporters on Monday, “The action of the UDP tantamount to back-stabbing its partners in the council when it had earlier decided that the Lok Sabha elections will not affect the relationship of the regional parties in the district council.”

UDP had alleged that the decision of the HSPDP to support Rev PBM Basaiawmoit is based on the fact that Ardent is his nephew.

To this, the KHADC CEM said, “To make family matters an election issue is not a welcoming move. Such allegation is not true as the decision to support Basaiawmoit is the unanimous decision taken by the HSPDP.” He said it appears the UDP is facing the crisis of “issues” because instead of concentrating on the Lok Sabha issues it has unnecessary brought up district council issue.

The CEM said that in the last 2009 MP elections when he was a member of UDP he had not mixed up family relationship with political matters as he had supported the party (UDP)’s candidate John F Kharshiing and campaign against his own uncle (Rev Basaiawmoit).

On the UDP’s claim that Ardent got to hold the top KHADC post because of the party, Basaiawmoit said, “This is just to mislead the public. But let me tell them (UDP), it is not because of them but it is because of the mandate of the people that HSPDP (7 seats) is in its present position in the council.”

According to Basaiawmoit there was no deal or agreement with UDP when the new EC in KHADC was formed that it is mandatory for the two allies (HSPDP & KHNAM) to support the UDP MP candidate.- By Our Reporter