Nongrum decides to step down as CEM

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 7: A day after the All Regiol Parties Alliance (ARPA) lost its majority, KHADC, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Adelbert Nongrum today said that he has decided to step down at an appropriate time.

“If I am the reason behind this ongoing crisis I am ready to take moral responsibility and resign from the post, for the sake of strengthening the ARPA,” Nongrum told reporters here.

The CEM also hoped that his decision would change the minds of those members who left the alliance to come back to ARPA’s fold.

The CEM also said that he has informed the members of the ARPA about his decision to resign at an “appropriate time.”

However, Nongrum informed reporters that he is not aware of the reasons behind the ARPA members resigning from the regiol alliance.

He reiterated that since the first day of his taking over as the CEM, he has always been for strengthening and keeping the ARPA intact.

Nongrum also said that the ARPA would elect a new leader to lead the alliance.

On Friday, UDP, MDC and Executive Member (EM) from Mawkyrwat – Hadrian Lyngdoh resigned from the party, to join the Opposition alliance People’s Democratic Front (PDF).

Hadrian Lyngdoh submitted his resigtion letters to the Chief Executive Member (CEM) Adelbert Nongrum and UDP Parliamentary Party leader Teinwell Dkhar respectively.

In a span of less than two weeks, three EMs of the ARPA resigned from their post to switch allegiance to PDF.

Earlier, two other EMs – Process T Sawkmie and Grace Mary Kharpuri resigned from the ARPA.

In the 30-member House, the opposition’s strength has swelled to 16 and ARPA is left with only 13 MDCs excluding the chairperson Teilinia Thangkhiew (HSPDP).

The ARPA an alliance of the HSPDP, UDP and KHM came to power last year. The KHADC has already seen two CEMs in the past one year.

HSPDP’s Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit reigned for six months before he was replaced by Nongrum (KHM) after the UDP were unhappy with his style of functioning.