Hamlet Dohling Blames It on the Absence of Anti-Defection Law

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: Hamlet Dohling, Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) MLA and member of the sub-committee tasked with resolving the in-party squabbling, has stated that many problems arise from MDCs as there is no anti-defection law in the district councils.

“Many issues and problems arise from MDCs and this is happening in different political parties primarily because there is no anti-defection law in the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs),” Dohling told reporters recently.

Therefore, the MDCs are free to choose where they want to go and there is very little action which can be taken against them.

“With the absence of anti-defection law in the ADCs, it has created a major problem for many political parties and not just the PDF,” he pointed out.

Stating that such misunderstandings within a party is common even with larger political entities, he evinced optimism that in contrast the (PDF) is a very new party and through these hurdles and problems the PDF would not only become more mature but also grow even stronger.

“This is a party which wants to uplift the people of the State. The politics of jealousy or to pull down one another has ended. As of now it’s a new era in which the party wants to be constructive and most importantly foster unity within the party,” he said.

He informed that the sub-committee will be analyzing the main cause that has turned a few party MDCs to go against each other. It would also analyze why some of them are satisfied with the functioning of the party while some are not. “Besides reviewing, the sub-committee will also go through the suggestions and then submit its report to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the party,” he added.

Asked on the status of the three MDCs whose suspension period ended on October 7, he said, “After the CEC had constituted the sub-committee it cannot take any decision on this matter until a report is submitted to the committee by the sub-committee.”

He informed that suspension of the three MDCs in KHADC will also be reviewed by the sub-committee.

The three MDCs — Latiplang Kharkongor, James Sylliang and Blanding Warjri — were suspended from the party because they had extended their support to the Executive Committee (EC) of HS Shylla.

Asked whether similar action will be taken against the five other MDCs who too subsequently extended their support to the EC led by HS Shylla, he said, “Right now I cannot comment on this subject matter however there are loopholes within the party and the sub-committee will try to resolve them.”

The five MDCs of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) who had extended their support to Executive Committee led by KHADC CEM HS Shylla included Parliamentary Party (PP) leader of PDF, James Ban Basaiawmoit, Banteidor Lyngdoh, Hadrian Lyngdoh, Morningstar Mawsor and Arbinus Lyngdoh.

He said that despite the loopholes within the party, the sub-committee will review all the problems and find out a solution.