UDP withdraws support to PDF

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, APR 17: In a major setback to the Congress suspended member PN Syiem, the United Democratic Party (UDP) today decided to withdraw support to his ruling PDF led executive committee (EC) in the KHADC for its alleged “corruption practices”.

The party has also resolved to sit in the opposition bench in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) but will refrain itself from working with the Congress, also an opposition party which is having 6 members.

The unanimous decision was taken at a meeting of the UDP’s central executive committee (CEC) which was chaired by its president Donkupar Roy in the presence state and district leaders in the city here on Monday.

The meeting was also attended by the five members of the district council (MDCs) of the party – Teinwell Dkhar, Hispreaching Son Shylla, Donkupar Sumer, Rona Khymdeit and Equator L Nongrang.

Sumer is presently holding the post of an executive member (EM) in the PDF led EC and is likely to immediately tender his resignation following the announcement of the decision by the central leadership.

With this new development, the strength of the ruling People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) has been reduced to only 17 members (Congress rebel – 1, BJP – 1, HSPDP – 3, KHNAM – 2, IND – 9, NCP – 1) from its initial force of 22 members.

“We have unanimously decided to withdraw our support from the ruling PDF in the KHADC led by the PN Syiem. We have accordingly given directions to our MDCs as the party do not subscribe to any element of corruption,” Roy told reporters.

He said that this was after the meeting had deliberated the recommendation of the party’s Sub-committee on KHADC Affairs as well as the findings of the House Committee report which was tabled in a special session held last month.

The House Committee in its report has revealed the alleged role of the CEM and EM in-charge Finance in the case of misappropriation of Council’s funds by the former Secretary to the EC Welljune Syiemlieh.

Also announcing that the MDCs of the party will now take the opposition bench, the party chief however said, “The party has maintained that it will not associate itself with other parties. We will not work with the Congress.”

Asked whether the step taken by the UDP will pave way for Administrator’s Rule in the KHADC, Roy said that the party’s decision is not to topple the Syiem led EC or to bring administrator’s rule.

“Our stand is clear that we simply do not want to be part of a corrupt executive committee. It is not our concern whether Syiem remain as CEM and the question of administrator’s rule is based on numbers,” he added.

On the other hand, UDP senior working president Bindo M Lanong categorically stated – “It is better to have an administrator’s rule (AR) than allow a corrupt executive committee to be there.”

Stating that there is nothing strange about it (AR), Lanong, who is also heading the Sub-Committee on KHADC Affairs, said at least on three occasions administrator’s rule have been imposed in the KHADC since 1970.

According to him, these were during the time when JM Thangkhiew, B Kma, and TW Pakyntein were deputy commissioners of East Khasi Hills District – when there were certain crisis related to financial irregularities, lack of support and others.

Meanwhile reacting to a query, the state party chief also admitted that the decision was painful to the party’s MDCs as some of them have to sacrifice their respective positions. “However, the decision was unanimous and everybody has to accept it,” he added.