A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: Esron Marwein, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) candidate for the Mawryngkneng bye-election, will now have to contest as an independent candidate.
KHNAM president and legislator Adelbert Nongrum informed that the decision of the Delhi High Court on the Election Commission of India (ECI) not recognizing the party is pending and as date of scrutiny has passed, the Returning Officer for Mawryngkneng suggested that the candidate should fight then poll as an independent candidate.
According to Nongrum, Pyndap Saibon, who has been in a tug of war with the KHNAM MLA, had complained to the ECI that there was a dispute in the party and no one had been authorized to sign Form A and Form B. As per a letter, as on date there are no authorized office bearers of the KHNAM on the record of the ECI since there is an ongoing internal dispute within the party.
Meanwhile, Marwein said that though he would be contesting as an independent candidate for the bye-election, he would remain a KHNAM member. He said that both the factions of the KHNAM on Tuesday decided to support him for the bye-election.
Meanwhile, the oldest regional party in the State, the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) has decided to support the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate, Eugeneson Lyngdoh for the Mawphlang bye-election. Both the UDP and the HSPDP are pre-poll partners in the Regional Democratic Alliance.
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