Shillong, Dec 5: A retired officer, First Force Deki Ramsiej, who accused the United Democratic Party of denying him ticket because it preferred a cash-rich candidate to him, has joined the National People’s Party to support one of the cash-rich sitting MLAs, Ngaitlang Dhar from Umroi Assembly constituency.

Dhar, who is the sitting Congress MLA from Umroi constituency, is set to join the NPP and contest as its candidate.

Ramsiej and some of his supporters were welcomed by NPP leaders at its office here on Tuesday.

“I have been denied ticket by the UDP forcefully from Umroi after Mangkara Pathaw came in. I have chosen to join the NPP because the party is being led by dynamic leaders like Conrad K. Sangma and it is also the party that would form the government in 2018. The way people join NPP now is like a revival. Many people are looking up to the NPP and joined the party. I hoped it will take the lead in the government formation,” Ramsiej said.

He also said that it would be a landslide victory for the NPP from Umroi constituency.

Ramsiej also accused the state government of not taking care for the farmers and there have been no field officers to look after problems being faced by farmers.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Ramsiej said that he joined the NPP without any condition.

He alleged the UDP of denying him ticket forcefully from Umroi and the ticket was allotted to Mangkara Pathaw who joined the UDP only on November 14, and the State Election Committee approved his name on November 22 which made his supporters angry.

He also claimed that the people in Umroi will vote for NPP though it is a new party.

Few days back, Ramsiej alleged that the decision of UDP leaders to deny him party ticket was because of the fact that he does not have money whereas Mangkara Pathaw comes from the rich family.

When asked, if he as an officer would support Ngaitlang Dhar as the candidate of the NPP, who is one of the richest candidates who also lacks educational qualification, Ramsiej said, “As of now Ngaitlang Dhar is still an MLA of the Congress from Umroi constituency. I am the first to join the NPP from Umroi constituency. I joined the NPP without any condition, but with an objective to work for the party in Umroi.”