SHILLONG, JULY 20: United Democratic Party (UDP) member from Mairang and candidate of the ruling Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA) Equator Nongrang was today elected unopposed as the deputy chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Pro-tem chairman Teilinia Thangkhiew announced that Nongrang has been elected unopposed following the decision of PDA candidate Morningstar Mawsor to withdraw his candidature before the start of the election to the post which was held here on Friday.
Interestingly, all the 12 members of the opposition People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) which comprises of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and Congress skipped the election of the deputy chairman despite some of them were present in the Council’s premises.
However, 2 out of 17 members of the KHDA also did not attend the election as well. These include Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) member Samlin Malngiang, who is also a cabinet minister, and KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum.
Speaking to reporters after the election, KHADC chief Hispreaching Son Shylla termed the decision of PDA members to abstain from the House as an ‘unhealthy practice’.
“Despite coming to the district council yet they (PDA members) chose to abstain from the House which is not a healthy practice,” he said.
This was the second time that the opposition members have decided to abstain from attending the House when they skipped the election to the post of chief executive member (CEM) held on July 13.
Alleging that PDA fears to accept defeat, Shylla however said that such action by the opposition members may attract the provisions of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) 1951, which can declare their respective seats as vacant.
“Sub rule 5 of Rule 16 clearly states that if for a period of thirty days a member of a District Council is without permission of the Council absent from all meetings thereof, the Council may declare his seat vacant,” he added.
Earlier while speaking during the felicitation of the new deputy chairman, Shylla said the total strength of the KHDA is 17.
He informed that HSPDP member Samlin Malngiang who had come to the district council decided to go to Sohiong after learning that PDA candidate had withdrawn his nomination for the post.
“I want to put the record straight since the proceeding of the House has gone to the Court after the PDA filed petition against the election to the post of CEM,” he said.
Also slamming the attitude of the PDA, HSPDP member and former KHADC chief Manstudy Nongrem said, “I feel from now onwards the PDA members should not be referred to as opposition members but as abstain members.”
Nongrem said that he is also expecting that the PDA members will also abstain the upcoming summer session of the Council to be held on July 25 and it is for the people to judge and answer such irresponsible elected representatives.
Congratulating Nongrang, the senior leader urged him to be neutral while conducting the business of the House even though he belongs to ruling KHDA for the interest of the members and the Council as a whole.
Addressing the House, the newly elected deputy chairman assured that he would give his best while performing the duty of the chair.
“I expressed my thanks to all the members of the House including the opposition members, who have decided to withdraw from contesting for the post because they are without numbers,” he said.
Nongrang was elected as Mairang MDC in the KHADC bye-elections held in 2016 following the resignation of six MLAs resigned as MDCs following the passing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly) (Amendment) Act 2015 which seeks to end the culture of holding dual posts by MLAs.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours