SHILLONG: HSPDP candidate Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit was elected unopposed on Saturday as the 26th Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the KHADC in a special session of the Council. Former CEM and KHUDA-II chairman Pynshngainlang N Syiem withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour.
Syiem’s withdrawal from the contest was not unexpected, however, since KHUDA-II did not have the requisite numbers to face the election. Congress could not have afforded to face another defeat, having lost the election to the post of the Chairperson two days ago.
Delighted on being elected, Basaiawmoit, the Nongkrem MDC who is also the chairman of ARPA, while making his maiden speech in the House as the new CEM, said that he had been given a huge responsibility to lift the image of the Council which was under scanner.
“I know there is a huge expectation on me to deliver. But I know without the support of all the 29 MDCs it is difficult for me to pursue on thetasks which are ahead of us,” the newly elected CEM said. He was ready to take along all the MDCs in his effort to revamp and rejuvenate the Council in the coming five years.
“But I would not be able to set the things right if there is an attempt to topple my Executive Committee in a span of five months. I know that this kind of political toppling game is a common thing in the Council,” Basaiawmoit said. “I hope all the 29 members of this House will not puncture the ship. It is important that the ship should sail till the end of the five years. But if the opposition members do it, they are answerable to the people,” he said, alluding to one MDC calling him “the pilot of the ship who will steer the district council.”
The Executive Council should not be disheartened by the general feeling that the local indigenous population felt that they no longer needed the district council. “We need to introspect and find out the reason. Personally, I feel that this is a big challenge to each one of us to get back the confidence of the people in having faith in an instiution like the district council whose priority is to protect their interest,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said the issue of development should not be the priority of the Council. “Our top priority of the district council is on how to protect and preserve the land, interests and identify of the indigenous people. The district council is not just about developmental schemes, but it should be clean and transparent,” Basaiawmoit said.
While congratulating his successor, outgoing CEM Pynshngain N Syiem said Congress members would not term themselves as the opposition but would play a constructive role in the interest of the people..
Earlier, the KHADC also elected 27- year -old Pyniaid Sing Syiem as the new deputy chairman, making him the youngest to be elected to the post.