KHNAM open for alliance

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAY 24: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) today said it is open for an alliance with the regional political parties provided that seriousness is there.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the KHNAM’s central executive committee (CEC) held here on Wednesday.

“If they talk about unity let them show their seriousness,” party working president Adelbert Nongrum told reporters at a news conference.

Stating that the party appreciates the UDP leader HS Shylla for taking the initiative to make the offer for unity among the regional parties, he however said but the kind of unity they are seeking is still not clear.

“Moreover, the United Democratic Party (UDP) at the moment is a member of the BJP led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA),” Nongrum said.

Recently, Shylla had announced that he would not contest the upcoming 2018 elections from Nongkrem to pave way for the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP).

Suggesting the need for pre-poll alliance among the regional forces in the state, Shylla had stated that this is because that there is a good chance for regional parties to form the new government in 2018.

He recalled that the regional political parties (APHLC, HSPDP and PDIC) had also formed the government in the state in 1978 with 33 MLAs, which however lasted for only 11 months.

However referring to this, Nongrum said that past history has to be taken into consideration because if regional parties are united only before the elections that will not served the purpose.

“If the three political parties – UDP, HSPDP and KHNAM come together I can say without any doubt that the BJP and the Congress will not have a chance in the state,” he added.

Agreeing on the need for unity among the three parties, Nongrum however said, “But the unity we want is not for survival of a political party or a politician or for the sake of elections but it should be for the survival of the indigenous community.”

Asked, the KHNAM working president said that the party has already started its ground work as part of the preparation for the forthcoming 2018 elections.

“We are trying our best to produce individuals who believes in the party’s ideology and who can best serve the people of the state,” Nongrum said while refusing to disclose the number of seats, the party is proposing to contest.