Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Dr. WR Kharlukhi walked away from the National People’s Party on Monday. The former Rajya Sabha MP and state party president sent a letter to current NPP state president Prestone Tynsong to make it official. He wants his name stripped from the party books immediately.
Kharlukhi offered no explanation for his departure. He kept his reasons quiet. In his written notice, he stated, "I hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership of the National People’s Party with immediate effect."
He expressed gratitude for his tenure with the group. He thanked the leadership and his former colleagues for the support and experiences provided during his time in the organization. The veteran politician leaves the party without public comment on his next move.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 9:52pm
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma labeled the exit a personal decision. He admitted he was saddened by the move but said he respected the former MP's choice to move on. Sangma noted that he shared a long history with Kharlukhi, dating back to his late father P.A. Sangma, who had previously pushed for Kharlukhi to take a Rajya Sabha seat. The Chief Minister confirmed the party will discuss the situation internally to decide whether to attempt to convince him to reconsider.
Deputy Chief Minister and NPP national vice president Sniawbhalang Dhar insisted the resignation stems from no internal conflict. He brushed off the departure as a standard reality of political life, noting that while he considers Kharlukhi a friend and will miss his presence, the party remains unaffected by the loss.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 1:49pm
Kharlukhi was a founding member of the NPP and steered the ship as state president from 2012 to 2023. During his tenure, he helped evolve the party from a struggling regional outfit into the state's dominant political power. Before he helped launch the NPP, he cut his teeth with the United Democratic Party until 1999.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma noted that Thomas Sangma originally took the Rajya Sabha seat that his father once urged Kharlukhi to accept. Sangma eventually pushed for Kharlukhi's appointment to the Upper House as a reward for his years spent in the trenches of governance and state politics.
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