Dumi from Rajarata boycotted the Betel leaf inaugural propaganda rally held on his home turf.

However, the former strongman, unmindful of the obvious affront, had while the meeting was in progress invited Dumi over the phone to forget the past and join hands with him again. Dumi had replied: “We quit the government then with the best of intensions. We had a definite objective in view. I can’t turn my back either on that objective or the party.  That’s why I decided to keep away from the rally.”  Dumi also had reminded the former boss of certain injustices his father had to suffer during the latter’s regime. 

He assured the former strongman that he harboured no ill -feeling towards him, adding, however, he could not attend the rally. 

Nevertheless, Dumi had sent his family members and his supporters to the rally.