The senior most figure of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Bindo M Lanong, has told Highland Post that though the scales may be in favour of Lambor Malngiang, it is he who deserves to get the party ticket to contest the Nongkrem seat at next year’s state elections.
Lanong, a former Deputy Chief Minister and Speaker of the Assembly, was realistic about his chances, however, saying that the UDP is in favour of giving the ticket to Malngiang, who is the sitting MLA for Nongkrem. According to Lanong, his supporters from Nongkrem had met UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh on Friday and learnt in that meeting that the party is inclined towards Malngiang.
Lanong has been out of the Assembly since 2013 when, following delimitation, he ran in East Shillong and lost to Ampareen Lyngdoh. He subsequently lost the 2018 poll from there as well and has since turned his gaze towards Nongkrem.
One of the reasons he feels he should be given the ticket is his absolute loyalty to the UDP, which makes him an outlier in a state where politicians change their party affiliation almost as often as their clothes.
“Malngiang contested the election in 2008 from KHNAM, then from the Congress in 2013, then he finally won as an independent candidate in 2018 and now he wants the UDP ticket and the party leadership also wants to give him the ticket,” Lanong said, adding that, for his party, he has been with the UDP ever since it was formed by EK Mawlong in 1997.
2018 was a close run thing for Malngiang as he won by fewer than 100 votes against the incumbent, Ardent M Basaiawmoit, who has spent the last four years trying to increase his political profile and has even formed a new political party.
Recalling that the same issue arose in 2008, he said “I remember Donkupar Roy (the late UDP leader) said that he would rather lose a seat than lose Bindo Lanong. That was Dr Don but now what can I say?”
Since the ticket has not been formally announced, he remains hopeful that the party will pick him but he declined to comment on what he might do if the UDP chooses Malngiang over him.
Nongkrem will be a highly interesting contest, as, if Malngiang runs, it will feature two sitting MLAs vying for it; last month, Mawhati MLA Dasakhiatbha Lamare confirmed the open secret that he is planning to run from Nongkrem in 2023.
“I will not comment further on anything till the UDP makes it clear on the party ticket in Nongkrem but my position there is very bright,” Lanong said, adding that he yearns to bring many developments to the constituency.
“The constituents there are faced with frequent power cuts and areas like Madanrting and Laitkor are facing acute water problems. These are the challenges that need to be resolved, including the plight faced by farmers,” he said.
