KHNAM MLA extends ‘conditional support’ to MDA

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 27, 2019

SHILLONG: The NPP-led MDA government on Tuesday got a shot in its arm with the decision of the lone Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) legislator Adelbert Nongrum to support the ruling alliance. 

Nongrum has accepted the offer to support the United Progressive Front (UPF), a newly floated sub-alliance formed by six MLAs from PDF, NCP and an Independent supporting the MDA government, on condition that the government should review the state reservation policy. 

The KHNAM legislator was welcomed to the MDA by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma during the meeting held to discuss on the issue related to the Speaker’s post here. As Nongrum entered the hall after being invited to join the meeting, members of MDA also welcome him with a massive applaud.

In his letter to the UPF chairman, Nongrum, which expressing that he is excited to work with the sub-alliance said, “I hereby declare that I accept to your proposal on the contribution that I am willing to associate myself with the UPF if we agree to raise one voice and to convince the government to constitute a committee which will look into the matter pertaining to the state reservation policy and several other issues which will be brought from time to time relating to the development and for the overall benefit of the state and its citizens.”

Earlier while speaking to reporters, the lone KHNAM legislator however maintained that if the issue is not taken up seriously by the state government, he can at any time pull out of the alliance. 

According to him, the inclusion of academic quota in the state reservation policy was a violation by the government. “Therefore, I insist that the government should immediately review the policy,” he stated.