The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) will move the State government on the need for a separate cadre of the All-India Services: IAS, IPS and IFS by bifurcating the present Assam-Meghalaya joint cadre system.
The issue featured at the general council meeting of KHNAM held here today. “We would also be sending our demands to the government and suggest it that we should go alone. If a joint cadre is mandatory then we prefer with other states other than Assam,” KHNAM leader Thomas Passah told Highland Post.
The issues featured at the council meet of the party are those listed in the manifesto since 2002, which includes ILP, inclusion of Khasi Language in 8ht Schedule, inter-state border, reservation policy and others.
KHNAM now considered the smallest regional party in the state did not contest the recent Assembly election. Its leaders however have been making presence felt as they continue to raise one issue or the other.
Meanwhile, the party today re-elected Pyndapborthiaw Saibon as the president for 2023-26. The other s include Thomas Passah as the Working President, James M.A Neng General Secretary, Frewellson Marpna, Vice President, Command Home Warshymbin Publicity Secretary besides others.
KHNAM was badly affected by the infighting that has plagued the party. The party now plans to regroup for next year’s KHADC polls.
The party won just one seat in 2018. KHNAM also suffered a leadership dispute between Adelbert Nongrum and Saibon. The dispute also led to Nongrum quitting the party in favour of the new Voice of the People Party (VPP), which made a big splash by winning four seats (including Nongrum’s North Shillong).
Saibon had accused Nongrum of forcefully claiming the post of president. He maintained that he was unanimously elected president while Nongrum was elected as working president during the party’s general convention on January 27, 2017.
The KHNAM was founded in 2002 by Paul Lyngdoh, now an MLA of the United Democratic Party.
