Personal Note::Someone need to explain Laeta Umbrey's resignation

Someone need to explain

Laeta Umbrey’s resignation  on 19 June, 2014 has created a whirlpool of controversy and perhaps, it has exposed the functioning of the lone regional political party of the state, People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA). The amount of interest this current controversy has generated should have been done wonders to the frail fortune of PPA. One never knows, tally might have breast-tapped double digit. On a hindsight, such prominent media space during pre-election season, whether it was good, bad or ugly, would have ensured top-of-the-mind brand recall of “Maize symbol”.  It would have been counted as great publicity stunt.

However, post-election, the party has courted undesirable controversies for two days in succession, which best should have been avoided so early into this term.

Umbrey’s resignation letter which has been made available to all the media houses was highly intriguing because he not just insinuated but made a full frontal attack by stating (quote) “But when it comes to elections, candidates are seen on basis of their ability to buy votes and gets re-elected to continue to do the same thing. The system is bound to continue and there seems no remedy to it. The same thing has happened in Rajya Sabha Election.” (Unquote).

There’s no scope for mis-reading his statements. He has made serious statement, not merely a charge, of nothing less than “Cash for Vote”, through a signed statement, against his own party legislators of indulging in shenanigans which is a criminal offence.

A day later, the party came out in full strength to show sympathy and cajole him to withdraw. Going by his choice of words and phrase in a highly emotive “resignation letter”, Umbrey is unlikely to stick to the party.

A former parliamentarian and twice elected legislator, Umbrey has been the PPA’s Chief Ministerial candidate. He is a political heavy weight; never known for “loose comment”. Therefore, nobody including Election Commission of India, the Speaker of the assembly and the Governor of the state should take lightly of a signed statement, issued by a highly responsible citizen of the state and the country.

Contents in the first half of Umbrey’s letter are not an internal matter for the party to discuss or decide. Flagged-off issues must be looked into even by the main opposition party, BJP as well as independent election watch-dogs like ADR etc.

Discerning citizens would be keen to know whether he has evidence to prove what he said or was it just a political outburst. But even Umbrey owes explanation, on his resignation letter, to the people of the state.