SHILLONG, MEGHALAYA: Suspended VPP MLA Adelbert Nongrum has been at the center of a controversy after his open opposition to the party’s decision to allocate tickets for the upcoming 2025 MDC elections. In a strongly worded response, Nongrum has maintained that the party’s actions are flawed and has questioned the procedures laid down in the VPP constitution.
According to Nongrum, the decision to allot party tickets does not align with the party’s constitution, and he has pointed out that members of the State Executive Committee had witnessed his strong opposition to the party’s decision. He also recalled that people had questioned him about fielding a candidate from Pynthorumkhrah to contest from Jaiaw constituency and another from Lumdiengiri for the Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah seat.
In his reply to the show-cause notice issued by VPP vice president Kara H Chen, Nongrum has expressed his dissatisfaction with the procedure and has maintained that he was surprised to receive a show-cause notice for taking a stand – both within the party and publicly – that the procedures laid down in the VPP constitution should be followed. He questions how his conduct and statements on this matter can be considered anti-party, stating, “How can my conduct and statements on this matter be considered anti-party? I cannot quite understand.”
Nongrum also highlighted that he had joined the VPP with the clear understanding that the issue of the state’s Reservation Policy would be part of the party’s agenda. He had been vocal about this issue in the Assembly and public forums, and he maintained that the party had agreed to adopt it when admitting him. He believes that his stand on using population demographics as a basis for reservation, delinking academic reservation from job reservation, and ensuring that reservations benefit the truly deprived sections of society should not come as a surprise to the party.
Nongrum’s response to the show-cause notice further stated that he had joined the party with the understanding that the issue of the state’s Reservation Policy would be part of the party’s agenda. He has been vocal about this issue in the Assembly and public forums, and he maintained that the party had agreed to adopt it when admitting him. He believes that his stand on using population demographics as a basis for reservation, delinking academic reservation from job reservation, and ensuring that reservations benefit the truly deprived sections of society should not come as a surprise to the party.
The VPP, however, has taken a stern stance, suspending Nongrum for three years, with immediate effect. In a letter to Nongrum, the VPP vice president stated, “It is observed that your reply, rather than expressing remorse or acknowledging the concerns raised, was defensive, confrontational, and lacked any sign of regret for actions deemed detrimental to the party’s interests.” The party has exercised its authority under Article III, Clause 5 of the VPP Constitution, citing Nongrum’s anti-party activities.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/03/31/adelberts-stout-reply-to-vpps-show-cause/
Category : MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2025-03-31 01:21:00
