MDC nomination: Guv may go with Govt, say AICC sources
Raj Bhawan in the city on Wednesday. (UB)
SHILLONG/NEW DELHI: A day after a KHADC delegation led by CEM, PN Syiem met Governor V Shanmuganathan urging him to request the Centre to speed up the process of examining the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2015, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday called on the head of the state to discuss various issues pertaining to the District Council, especially the matter of the nominated MDC.
The meeting between the Chief Minister and the Governor began at 6 pm and lasted for almost 45 minutes.
Speculation is rife that though it was a courtesy call, the Chief Minister, during the meeting, discussed the names of the nominated MDCs besides the issue of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2015.
While the KHADC has proposed the name of J. Reenbohn as the nominated MDC, the State Government is vouching for Irene Lyngdoh.
The Governor had earlier returned the names of proposed nominated MDCs, Reenbohn and Lyngdoh, to the state government for choosing one before giving his nod.
Sources claimed that the Chief Minister, during his meeting with the Governor insisted that Lyngdoh be appointed as the nominated MDC.
If one is to go by party sources in Delhi, the Governor is likely to accept the nomination sent by the State Government to which he has returned both the names and the AICC will go purely by the rule as far as the selection is concerned.
“It seems, the State Government will take the final call on the nominated member,” sources said.
“The AICC will go purely by the rule as far as the nomination of the member to the KHADC is concerned to end the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and beleaguered Chief Executive Member P Syiem,” sources told The Shillong Times in Delhi on Wednesday.
“For Congress this is an internal issue and it will be sorted out amicably,” sources added.
Only on Tuesday a delegation led by Syiem had urged the Governor to recall the file containing the name of J. Reenbohn from the State Government and give his approval.
“The name of Reenbohn was unanimously proposed and this proposal has been appreciated by the people,” he had said.
According to Syiem, proper procedure was followed while proposing Reenbohn’s name. He reiterated that Assam Meghalaya District Council Rules, sub rule 2 of Rule 6 states that the District Council may submit its recommendation of a nominated MDC to the Governor.
In this connection, Syiem pointed out, “On any matter related to the State Government, the Governor can seek the approval of the Council of Ministers. But the District Council comes under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and hence the Governor should grant his approval taking into the consideration the consensus in the House.”
“This power squabble has created a very embarrassing situation for the Congress which is in ruling both in the State and in the ADC in Meghalaya,” sources said adding that, “top leaders including senior office bearers should have exercised discretion before sending two names for one nominated member to the Governor.”
Party High Command perturbed by infighting
“As it is, the party high command is perturbed by the serious infighting between the Chief Minister and the CEM despite both being senior Congress leaders. Both of them are holding top positions in their respective domain,” sources added.
Incidentally, the CEM held a meeting with party president, Sonia Gandhi and vice-president, Rahul Gandhi here last month and apprised them of the dual post issue and nomination to the ADC.
The Congress is further embarrassed since the former nominated party MDC because of whom the vacancy arose, lost in the Nongstoin by-election largely due to serious squabbling within the party.
On the other hand the nominee of the CEM is backed by all the political parties in the KHADC including major regional party UDP. But unlike in the state, the KHADC is run by a coalition headed by Congress which is also worried about the possibility of by-polls soon.