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Congress criticises Governor’s ‘hasty move’
SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) got its 24th chairman on Saturday as members unanimously elected L.G Nongsiej during a special session chaired by the body’s legislative secretary A. Shangpliang.
However, Congress member P.T Sawkmie criticised the Governor for calling the session in such a short notice.
“The Governor has called the session in haste. He does not respect the MDCs… It is wrong to hold a session on one day notice,” Sawkmie said.
Addressing the Council members, former KHADC chairman Mansturdy Nongrem, who resigned following the Congress’s withdrawal of support to the ruling People’s Democratic Forum (PDF), urged Nongsiej to follow and maintain the decorum of the House.
“I urge upon the new chairman to pursue the cases of pending bills in the KHADC,” he said.
Though Nongsiej is viewed as the suspended member of HSPDP, there was no official communication from the party on the suspension of Nongsiej and Mawshynrut MDC Morningstar Mawsor.
Earlier, Nongsiej had stated that since he was outside the party’s fold, he could be taken as an Independent member.
HSPDP’s Pyniaid Sing Syiem hailed the Governor’s decision to appoint the Secretary of the KHADC to preside at the session and criticised the State government for proposing an ‘outsider’s’ name for the chairman’s post.
Commenting on Nongsiej’s party status, he said, “I feel that L.G Nongsiej is still a member of HSPDP. It is an honour for the HSPDP.”
Meanwhile, the Council’s chief executive member, P.N Syiem, stressed on the need for understanding autonomous district council rules, acts and the Constitution. “There were many developments in the area and the development comes after we follow the procedure of rules. It is the first time that the secretary has been authorised to preside at the special session,” said the CEM and urged Nongsiej to study the Assam Meghalaya District Council Rules.
Sawkmie said he has been an MDC for not less than three years and during this period, he has seen three different CEMs and chairmen. “We don’t know what will happen later as that is part of politics,” he added.
The former Deputy CEM urged for a roundtable discussion to resolve various issues.