SHILLONG: While expressing disappointment over the decision to detach the three blocks of Mawlai Nongmali to Jaiaw constituency, the Dorbar Shnong of Mawlai Mawdatbaki and the Seng Samla has left to the wisdom of the residents of the locality to decide whether they would boycott or cast their votes for the February 24 district council elections.
Informing that during the meeting held on February 15 where all the members of Mali 1, Mali 2 and Mali 3, Mawlai Mawdatbaki Seng Samla president W Kharpran said that majority were of the view that they should boycott the election.
“But after thorough deliberation, they have decided not to impose the decision to boycott the election. We have left to the wisdom of each and every resident whether they would like to cast their vote or not,” Kharpran said in a statement issued here on Monday.
He however questioned the decision of the Delimitation Committee constituted by the KHADC to detach the locality from Mawlai constituency.
Stating if this decision to remove the locality which has 1600 voters was to bring down the total number of voters under Mawlai constituency, Kharpran questioned as to why was Mawpat which has about 3000 votes has been included with Mawlai constituency.
It may be mentioned that Mawpat is attached with Pynthorumkhrah constituency in the Assembly constituencies.
Earlier, the residents of Mawlai Mawdatbaki decided to protest against the removal of certain areas from Mawlai constituency by tagging them to other constituency of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
“The manner in which the delimitation exercise was carried out by keeping Mali-I, Mali-II and Mali-III under Mawdatbaki out of Mawlai constituency even after a representation was submitted by the Dorbar is an insult not only to the residents of the localities but the whole Dorbar Shnong and the youths,” Kharpran had earlier said.
The Seng Samla organizing secretary, Kenny Mukhim said that residents of Mali-I, II and III have already prepared to participate in the District Council under Mawlai constituency as till today, they were not clear about the newly delimited areas which has come into force.