Election of new KHNAM president should be as per constitution: Saibon

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 18, 2021

KHNAM president Pyndap Saibon said he is ready to call the meeting of the General Council provided that the election of the new body should be as per the party constitution. 

“As the present central executive committee (CEC), we do not have any problem if the party MLA Adelbert Nongrum is elected as president but it should be as per constitution of the party,” Saibon said in a statement issued on Sunday. 

He was reacting to a recent statement made by Nongrum that the Election Commission of India has recognized him as the president of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement. 

Asking Nongrum to substantiate his claims, Saibon however said, “In fact I have already expressed before Adelbert Nongrum that I want to retire and hand over charge to him once my term expired in the General Council, which was supposed to be held in 2019, but to my surprise he wanted to forcebly take over. His action has to a great extent affect the party.”

“Our fight as the present CEC is to ensure that the truth prevails and not about the president’s post. 

The people should wonder why all the members of the CEC who were elected in the General Council are supporting me… Failing to win the confidence of the members, Adelbert Nongrum had to seek the support of those who have already resigned from the party.”

On the MLA’s call for end of dispute within the party, Saibon said “If Adelbert Nongrum wants to resolve the matter, we are ready and if he wants to become the president, I am also willing to call the meeting of the General Council, since I have no intention to continue in the post, provided that everything should be in accordance to the party constitution.”

Saibon was elected as president while Nongrum as working president during the General Council meeting held in 2017. However, Nongrum later resigned as working president of the party.

He said that the claim of Adelbert Nongrum that ECI has recognized him as the president of the party is misleading.

“In fact based on the order passed by the High Court, the ECI in its letter to me and Adelbert Nongrum had directed both the parties to resolve the dispute amicably. Without resolving this, it would be wrong on the part of the Adelbert Nongrum to claim that he is the president of the party,” Saibon stated.