By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Congress legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh has opposed one man one post theory, saying less qualified person should not be sent to the district councils.
“I do not see any problem when an MLA holds the post of MDC at the same time. In fact, I feel that it is good if the same person represents the constituency both in the Assembly as well as in the District Councils since he would be able to highlight the problems of people in a much better manner,” Lyngdoh said.
“The Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) is a constitutional body which concerned with the preservation and protection of the traditional practice and customs of local indigenous people of the State. Taking into consideration of this fact, I personally feel that it is more important that we have a dedicated and qualified individual elected as the member of the ADCs,” Lyngdoh said.
The Mylliem legislator also expressed concern that over the attempt by a certain section to abolish district councils.
“I think this is very dangerous move. We need to voice our strong reservation against such move,” he said adding “If an institution like district council is abolished then it would have strong ramifications on very existence of the indigenous tribal population.”
“There is a need to have intellectual people in the Council who are able to take the councils to a newer height,” he said.
When ask if he was going to contest the district council elections scheduled for next year, he said it would all depend on the people of his constituency.
Lyngdoh had represented the constituency as an MDC from 2004 to 2009. He, however, unsuccessfully contested the last council election in 2009. He was defeated by NCP candidate Teilinia Thangkhiew.
The Pynursla Congress legislator Prestone Tynsong, however, has a different take on this issue.
Tynsong recently said that he had to counter a very tough question while attending a funeral service a few years ago, when he was both the MLA and MDC of the erstwhile Langkyrdem constituency.
Tynsong informed that while he was attending the funeral service a few people from the constituency asked him why every time he had to come on his own to attend any service and not allow the MDC to share the responsibility. “I was taken aback by the words of the people of my constituency. In fact, it was a wakeup call for me since I also realized that it was not a right thing that one person should hold dual posts,” the former MDC from Langkyrdem said. Tynsong made the disclosure when The Shillong Times sought his opinion and those of others on whether an elected MLA should also contest for the post of MDC, elections to which are due in 2014.
Admitting that it was extremely difficult from him to perform the dual role of MLA and MDC, Tynsong said that after being inducted as a Cabinet Minister he was not able to give time to contribute towards the affairs of the KHADC as an MDC. “After having this bitter personal experience, I now firmly believe on the principle of one man one post,” he said, while adding that it was because of this that he chose not to contest in the 2009 election to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.