Adelbert Nongrum finally gives up

SHILLONG: KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum has decided to step down owning ‘moral responsibility’ for the downfall of the Executive Committee (EC) of ARPA in the Council even as Opposition PDF, it seems, is heading for a leadership crisis.
“I offered to resign during the meeting of ARPA on Saturday taking full responsibility for the shifting of allegiance of the three EMs which ultimately reduced ruling coalition into a minority,” Nongrum said on Sunday.
He said that he would be submitting his resignation as the CEM at the right time.
The KHADC CEM also indicated that he would also give up the chairmanship of ARPA.
“The ARPA will elect a new leader shortly,” Nongrum said.
He said that the main reason which had led to all these developments is because of the personal agenda of the individual MDCs.
The recent resignation of Executive Member Hadrian Lyngdoh, (UDP MDC from Mawkyrwat) has boosted PDF’s chances to form a new Executive Committee. Since Hadrian joined the PDF, the strength in the 30-member House swelled to 16. And ARPA is left with only 13 MDCs excluding the chairperson Teilinia Thangkhiew (HSPDP).
In another interesting development, the PDF has entrusted both Process T Sawkmie and Pynshngaiñ N Syiem to take the final call on who will lead the new EC.
Earlier, it was decided that Sawkmie would be the leader of the PDF parliamentary party and Syiem would be the chairman of the alliance.
“But for the sake of stability, we have to finalize the issue of leadership,” Syiem said on Sunday.
According to Syiem, whether he should lead the KHADC or Sawkmie, the matter will be decided when they meet on Monday.
He also said that since ARPA lost majority, the CEM should step down to pave way for the formation of a new EC .