HC recognizes Pyndapbor Saiborne as Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement president

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court has recognized Pyndapbor Saiborne as the president of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), thereby putting an end to the claims and counter claims by the two factions of the party.

The court’s ruling virtually nullified the claims of the faction led by the party’s lone MLA Adelberth Nongrum. He claims to be the leader of the party formed in 2002.

Addressing newspersons in Shillong on Monday Saiborne said that the verdict itself provides that he continues to be the president of the KHNAM. He read the court order that stated that ‘the position of the present petitioner, as it exists shall be maintained. This means that Adelbert’s claims of being the party president of the KHNAM stands null and void,” asserted Saiborne, who is the petitioner in the case.

Saiborne also stated that the order also empowered him as the president of the party to sign forms ‘A’ and ‘B” meant for the election process. While the Adelberth Nongrum faction has already fielded THS Boney as its candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, questions are being raised on the validity of his candidature.

On this, the KHNAM president said, “As it is, he should not be recognized as an official candidate. We’ve submitted the papers of the court’s verdict to the returning officer and the chief electoral officer. The recognition of THS Boney as an official candidate will tantamount to contempt of court.”

On the claim of Adelberth Nonrum prior the court’s verdict that his faction is the genuine KHNAM, Saiborne stated, “the CEC simply observed that this is an internal dispute that needed to be resolved amicably or by a competent court”, adding, “we went to court and the outcome of the verdict is in our favour.”

Saiborne also accused Adelberth Nongrum of misleading the CEC by claiming that he was duly elected as the president of the KHNAM in its general executive council.

Also read: Meghalaya news