SHILLONG: The drama and suspense over the affairs of KHADC continued on Tuesday with the ruling ARPA members choosing Metbah Lyngdoh of UDP to be its new leader to head a new Executive Committee in place of Adelbert Nongrum (KHNAM) even as the Independent MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri, who had deserted the ruling coalition on February 24, re-joined the alliance on Tuesday.
Nongrum stepped down on Tuesday to pave way for Metbah to take over the Executive Committee (EC).
Another surprise was the support of Independent MDC James Sylliang to ARPA after leaving the Congress-led People’s Democratic Forum (PDF).
The meeting, which was held at the residence of Metbah on Tuesday night, was attended by all the 15 MDCs supporting ARPA. HSPDP MDC Ardent Basaiawmoit could not attend the meeting due to illness. Metbah told reporters that ARPA will stake claim soon to form the new EC. Expressing confidence to lead ARPA, Metbah said, “the offer came to me on Saturday, but, I wanted to ensure support of the MDCs”.
When asked, both Kharpuri and Sylliang, did not spell out specific reasons for leaving PDF, but only said that they wanted now to forget the differences.
The tactics of ARPA has dashed the hope of PDF leaders, PT Sawkmie, who left the ARPA Executive Committee (EC) to support the PDF and Pynshngain N Syiem who was chosen on Monday as the leader of PDF.
UDP MDC Hadrian Lyngdoh, who left the ARPA coalition to join the Congress-led PDF is also at a loss.
With the new development, the strength of ARPA stands at 16 including the Chairperson in the House of 30, while that of the Opposition was reduced to 14.
The political situation in KHADC became fluid after the Congress led opposition moved a no- confidence motion against the EC led by Adelbert Nongrum on February 24.
Though Nongrum survived the motion, two MDCs, Sawkmie and Kharpuri of the ruling ARPA left the alliance to support the Congress led coalition.
Moreover, in an attempt to capture the Council, the Congress led PDF had allowed the entry of Gabriel Wahlang as the nominated MDC, but in vain.