SHILLONG, JULY 11: Former Congress minister Hispreacher Son Shylla will be contesting the upcoming district council bye-polls as the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate.
The UDP on Monday approved the name of Shylla as its official candidate from Nongkrem constituency.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the UDP-East Khasi Hills District Unit which also resolved to take the bye-election as a ‘mission Nongkrem’ to ensure that the UDP wins from the constituency.
“The name of Shylla as recommended by the party Nongkrem circle was approved by the district election committee of the UDP-EKHD,” UDP president Donkupar Roy told newsmen after the meeting.
Shylla was the lone aspirant who had applied for the party ticket from Nongkrem constituency.
Roy, however, said “The official declaration of this will be announced by the state election committee soon. When asked, he said that as per his recent meeting with the DCA minister HDR Lyngdoh, the state government is contemplating to hold the bye-elections tentatively by September or October this year.
On the delay of holding the bye-elections even after six months have lapsed, Roy said that it is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that seats lying vacant be filled up.
He also declared that the UDP will be contesting from all seven vacant seats.
The bye-election was necessitated following the resignation of HSPDP chief Ardent M Basaiawmoit as member of KHADC in November last year.
Along with him, six other legislators have also resigned as members of KHADC and JHADC after the government’s passed the Prevention Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly, Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015.
Shylla, a two-time MLA and two-time MDC, first contested the election from UDP party and later shifted to the Congress party.
Shylla, who had once declared he would not enter politics after he was defeated in 2009 and 2013 elections, said that the issues concerning the people has prompted him to come back in politics.
He was referring to a meeting held at Smit village attended by him to discuss various laws affecting the indigenous community earlier on February this year, where people have requested him to contest the election.
The issues are related to traditional heads, alleged encroachment of MUDA into rural areas and compulsory registration of marriage, which was proposed by HSPDP chief and approved by the state assembly.
“The headmen have from time to time met me and I have no choice but to come back despite my earlier decision not to return to politics,” Shylla said.
When asked, he said his decision to come back to the UDP was because of the fact that the Congress had earlier denied him tickets.
“It is also a fact that the Congress has no future to be at the national as well as state level… the shortcomings of the Congress is there and there is no more inner party democracy as it doesn’t dare to convene the Congress Legislative Parliamentary (CLP) party,” Shylla said.
Coming down heavily on the HSPDP for its demand for introducing Article 371 in the state, he said, “Implementation of Article 371 in the state only indicate that we no longer require district councils under Sixth Schedule here… this shows lack of understanding of the leader (Ardent) of the laws. If they (HSPDP) say they want Art 371 then they should also stop contesting MDC elections.”
On whether he would contest the upcoming 2018 state elections, Shylla however said he would prefer to take things one at a time before making any decision at the moment.-By Our Reporter
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