Ardent’s era over, mock UDP’s HS Shylla

***Victorious UDP candidate HS Shylla celebrating his win on Friday***

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, DEC 16: Former KHADC chief executive member (CEM) and UDP MDC Hispreaching Son Shylla took a potshot at HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit saying the “Ardent-era” has come to an end in the Nongkrem constituency.

The HSPDP could not retain the seat in Nongkrem as Shylla clinched the seat in the results declared on Friday.

“The era of Ardent has come to an end,” an elated Shylla told reporters after winning the bye-election.

Saying that it is a big blow to the HSPDP, whose candidate Hubert Ford Riang secured third position, Shylla said, “I thought that I will give them a yellow card but after the result today that yellow card has turned to a red card.”

While leaving it to the wisdom of his party for the UDP ticket for the upcoming 2018 state elections, he said, “The HSPDP has failed in the semi final (bye-election). I feel only the winners are fit to go to the finals (state elections).”

The former KHADC chief said his winning the bye-election was based on the five crucial issues he raised during the election campaign which related to the powers of traditional headmen, illegal encroachment of MUDA, Marriage Act, changing from matrilineal to patrilineal and article 371.

“The people who elected me clearly sends a message that the society is not ready to change from the matrilineal system… they don’t want that their children will inherit a father’s surname,” Shylla said.

On the Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, Shylla said that the state government has to amend the penalty clauses in as far as the registration of marriage is concerned.

When asked, Shylla said as far as the executive committee in the KHADC led by a suspended member of the Congress PN Syiem is concerned, he would like to reiterate the stand maintained by the UDP chief Donkupar Roy, who stated that the party would continue to support the PDF.

“We would accordingly work together with the present EC,” he added.

The UDP, which initially had only 3 MDCs, will now have 5 in the 30-member KHADC.