KHNAM general secretary Pyndapbor Saibon addresses a news conference in Shillong on Monday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Nov. 21: Members of Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) today revolted against its party president Paul Lyngdoh, who is keen on a merger with the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Lyngdoh, the lone KHNAM legislator, had expressed the desire to merge with the UDP and the matter was also communicated to the party.

However, addressing a news conference today, KHNAM general secretary Pyndapbor Saibon said even if the general council meeting of the party decided to merge, a section of members will still remain in the party.

The general council meeting of KHNAM will be held on May 26 to discuss the issue.

The party was formed by former Khasi Students’ Union leaders Paul Lyngdoh and Pyndapbor Saibon with others before the 2003 Assembly elections.

KHNAM secured two seats after Lyngdoh and another candidate Lambor Malngiang won the elections.

Lyngdoh was re-elected in the 2008 Assembly elections, but Malngiang was defeated.

However, in 2009, Malngiang was elected member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC). Other members of the KHADC are Adelbert Nongrum, James Basaiwmoit and Latiplang Kharkongor.

“It is not the wish of the party members to disband KHNAM, which was formed to fight for the rights of the people in the years to come,” said Nongrum who belongs to the same constituency of Jaiaw from where Lyngdoh was elected to the Meghalaya Assembly. According to Saibon, KHNAM is a movement and not just a political party and the desire of the majority is to carry on with the party activities in the state.

He also said the issue of merger with UDP was discussed on several occasions in the central executive council meeting of the party.

“In the meetings, we had also sought more time before we finally decide on the merger of the party with UDP,” Saibon said.

Saibon said in the central executive committee, consisting of 18 members, five are opposed to the merger and he hoped that more would extend support their move to retain the party.

The time has not come to disband the party rather it should be strengthened in the days to come, he added.

Instead of KHNAM merging with the UDP, Saibon said his supporters can agree to form a new political outfit if KHNAM and UDP come together to make such a decision.