Shillong Mar 28: T.H.S. Bonney is now an Independent candidate from Shillong Lok Sabha constituency after the Returning Officer, Abhishek Bhagotia decided not to consider his nomination papers as candidate of the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM).

However CPI candidate, Justice Kharbasanti whose nomination papers have been under scanner, withdrew his nominations on Thursday.

Earlier, the Returning Officer withheld the nomination papers of Bonney as KHNAM candidate, and Justice Kharbasanti of the CPI following complaints against them.

The candidature of Bonney was opposed by Pyndapborthiaw Saibon after he was re-instated as KHNAM president through an order passed by the Meghalaya High Court on March 20.

Bhagotia said that after examining the objections raised against Bonney as KHNAM candidate and submissions made by him, it was decided that Bonney cannot contest on KHNAM ticket, but as an Independent candidate.

Bonney had replied to the Returning Officer stating that he had filed his nominations as KHNAM candidate on March 19, before an order passed by the court.

After thorough examination, Bonney was allowed to contest as Independent and his election symbol is the ‘key’.

On March 25, Saibon has written to the Returning Officer, urging him not to recognize Bonney as KHNAM candidate, on the ground that forms ‘A and B’ relating to party ticket issued by Adelbert Nongrum as president of the party, have become null and void with the coming of the court order.

Nongrum claimed that he was elected as president of KHNAM in August last year.

But Saibon moved the Election Commission of India but the Commission directed that such an internal dispute regarding office bearers of the party should be resolved within the party amicably or else by orders of a competent court, after which, Saibon moved the matter before the Meghalaya High Court.

Kharbasanti’s nomination papers were also withheld after the Returning Officer received a complaint from a bank for not disclosing some pending dues.

The Returning Officer said that Kharbasanti has given his submissions in writing where he admitted that he did not disclose the pending dues that he has to pay to the bank.

“Since Kharbasanti has withdrawn his candidature, the matter related to non disclosure of pending dues is over,” Bhagotia said.

The number of candidates contesting from Shillong Lok Sabha constituency is now six, after Kharbasanti withdrew himself from the fray.

The six candidates in the fray are sitting Congress MP, Vincent H. Pala, Jemino Mawthoh of the United Democratic Party, BJP candidate and its sitting legislator from South Shillong Assembly constituency, Sanbor Shullai, besides Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani, who all are contesting as Independent.