SHILLONG, Dec 19: Congress has managed to poach another UDP member of KHADC with Mairang MDC Rasor Sing Rani switching allegiance to Khasi Hills United Democratic Allaince (KHUDA). Rani joined KHUDA on Friday, seeing that anti-defection law of the Council had already become redundant. He is the sixth UDP MDC to have shifted loyalty to the Congress camp in the last six months.
The defection UDP MDCs to the Congress-led ruling coalition started with Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, Fabian Lyngdoh, Carmel Sohtun, Ostril Pamshong and Artist Ranee. Their desertion of the UDP, and now Rani following suit, has left the UDP leadership flabbergasted.
The Congress-led KHUDA strength in the 30-member Council has swelled to 20. The number UDP members has gone down to five from eleven.
KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Mansturdy Nongrem confirmed Rani’s extension of support for the ruling alliance but denied reports that he had joined the Congress . “According to my knowledge, Rani’s support for my Executive Committee is in line with the support extended by five other defected UDP MDCs”, said Nongrem, adding, “The latest UDP defector has been rewarded with the post of Chairman, Resources Mobilisation.”
UDP general secretary R Augustine Lyngdoh, however, said Rani had not resigned from the UDP and that his defection to KHUDA was only a here-say.
Asked about the reasons for UDP MDCs leaving the party one after another, Lyngdoh said, “The party will have to asses the root cause of the problem, and hopefully the party leadership would be able to sort out the matter”.
Also, the UDP seems to have struggled to rein in rebel party men, especially MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit. Controlling the Nonghkrem legislator has of late become a challenge to the party leadership. THE SENTINEL
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