The squabbling between the United Democratic Party (UDP) and National People’s Party (NPP) may continue into another term of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), with both parties competing for the role of Leader of the Opposition for their own MDCs.
The UDP and NPP are allies in the coalition government that runs the state and are also allies in the Jaintia Hills ADC where the NPP is the senior partner in the executive committee. In the last KHADC, however, the two were first allies before the NPP pulled off a coup, ditched the UDP and allied with the Congress Party in the executive committee.
However, in the current KHADC, the two are now tussling for the LoP role after both finished well behind the now ruling Voice of the People Party (VPP).
Opposition MDCs met today after they took their oaths of office but the meeting ended in stalemate. The UDP has five MDCs and the NPP four. However, in a twist, the NPP cobbled together support from two independents and the lone Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) member and now have seven MDCs in their camp.
Sources informed that the UDP wants three-time MDC from Sohra and former Chief Executive Member (before he was overthrown in that NPP stab-in-the-back move) Titostsarwell Chyne as the next LoP, while the NPP group wants Nongshken MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri.
The UDP is apparently peeved that the HSPDP MDC for Mawshynrut, Srally Rashir, has gone over to the NPP camp even though the HSPDP and UDP are members of the Regional Democratic Alliance (an alliance within an alliance that discludes the NPP and others).
After the meeting, Chyne told reporters that the meeting was inconclusive but that the next round will be held tomorrow. Kharpuri, who was elected as the NPP’s parliamentary party leader yesterday, refuted reports that there is a tussle for the post of LoP.
The two independent candidates who are with the NPP are Ricky Shullai (Laban) and Lurshai Kharbani (Rambrai-Jyrngam).
If the parties cannot decide on who will take the post of opposition leader, then the final call will be taken by the Chairman of the KHADC, a VPP member.
