Pala alleges 2 VPP MLAs have miserably failed during their tenure as KHADC chief

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 12, 2025

Congress chief Vincent H Pala on Saturday alleged that two of the four MLAs of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) have miserably failed during their tenure as chief executive member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

This came as a reaction to a recent allegation made by the VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh that the Congress is a “political clown” while referring to its decision to pull out of the NPP-led EC in the KHADC just ahead of the ADC polls.

“I think the VPP leaders have had their experience in the district council. Two of its four MLAs are former CEMs and they have failed miserably and in fact they cannot even complete one year term (as CEMs). Therefore, to say the Congress is a political clown only reflects the level of their frustration because their own leaders have failed miserably (during their tenures as CEM of KHADC),” Pala told reporters during a news conference.

He was referring to VPP president and Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and North Shillong legislator Adelbert Nongrum, who had held the CEM posts when they were with the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) respectively.

Terming the VPP’s allegations as total baseless, Pala said, “This is because the Congress has extended support in the KHADC after the UDP withdrew (from the EC) and at the same time, the Centre was asking for suggestions on the proposed amendment of Sixth Schedule from the council so we were left with no option but to step in and extend our support to the NPP-led EC in the KHADC.”

He also claimed that the Congress had played a crucial role in the KHADC and said, “Because when you are to give suggestions on the Sixth Schedule, you need experienced people to do that…After we have done our job, we decide to withdraw from the NPP-led EC in the KHADC.”

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Further, Pala also slammed the VPP spokesperson for alleging that the Congress will again work with the NPP after the ADC polls.

“I did not know that the VPP spokesperson is a prophet that he can predict the Congress will join hands with the NPP. It is a shame for the spokesperson to talk on behalf and to predict about the Congress’ move. How will you believe such parties, who don’t know about themselves but who know only how to interfere into the affairs of the Congress,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pala said that VPP’s wave during the last MP election will not have any impact in the forthcoming ADC polls.

“The MP elections are different from the MLA and MDC elections. I don’t think such a wave will have any impact and it will definitely not affect the Congress. In fact, the vote share of the Congress during the MP and MLA elections have increased and we hope it will continue to increase in the upcoming MDC elections also. The vote share which goes to the VPP during the MP election are from other political parties,” he claimed.