Disgruntled former Mawlai MLA, Embhahlang Syiemlieh, struck out yesterday at his former party, the United Democratic Party, saying that it is incapable of ruling the state.
Syiemlieh said this during his induction into the National People’s Party (NPP) along with scores of his supporters.
The ex-legislator had won the 2013 election on a UDP ticket but went on to lose his seat in 2018 to Process Sawkmie of the Congress Party. With Sawkmie suspended from the Congress earlier this year, it became apparent that he was considering a move to the UDP for the upcoming state elections and that has led to Syiemlieh’s exit.
According to him, the UDP leadership is not of the same stature as party stalwarts EK Mawlong and Donkupar Roy.
“I joined the UDP because of visionaries like them,” Syiemlieh said.
He added further criticism of his old party, saying that it is keen to take credit for the state government’s successes while hitting out at the NPP whenever there is an unpopular decision.
“When there are brickbats for the government they sideline the NPP and when it is applauded they want a share of the limelight,” Syiemlieh said. “They are not capable of leading the state.”
According to his version of events, he was willing to put party and constituency ahead of his own personal ambitions and welcome Sawkmie into the UDP. However, problems arose when other Congress members joined the party (Sawkmie has yet to formally join given anti-defection laws) and took over its running.
