SHILLONG: Close on the heels of the Meghalaya High Court asking the state government to file an affidavit on the dual post issue involving elected representatives, Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Sanbor Shullai on Saturday said that there is no bar on a sitting MLA from taking part in the district council elections.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a felicitation programme organized to mark the silver jubilee year of Shullai as an MDC, the MLA from South Shillong constituency said that the disqualification Act was amended on four occasions, but no bar was inserted in the Act on these four occasions.
Meghalaya, which has a unicameral legislature, has three autonomous district councils – Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) created under the Sixth Schedule.
The members holding dual posts had successfully contested the Assembly and district council elections conducted in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
It may be mentioned that CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing had filed a PIL in the court seeking disqualification of as many as eight legislators cum MDCs in Khasi and Jaintia Hills including Stephanson Mukhim, HDR Lyngdoh, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, Metbah Lyngdoh, Pyngshngainlang Syiem, Phlastingwell Pangniang, Sanbor Shullai and Brolding Nongsiej.
The State Governor’s Secretariat earlier sought the views of Union Ministry of Home Affairs on the demand for disqualification of MLAs who are holding the post of MDCs.
Shullai, who is a member of the KHADC, said that he would call it quits from politics if people want him to do so.
“If people suggest me not to contest elections I will keep myself away from electoral politics,” he said.
Asked on the mantra of his success, Shullai said, “It’s a tough job to be a politician I must admit, but one has to be and work along with the people no matter how rich or how poor they are… the mantra is to serve the people.” Shullai said the 25 years of his political journey is nothing but the love and trust that people have on his leadership. He said, “My decision to contest the MDC and MLA elections was based on the requests of the people.”
On criminalization of politics in Meghalaya, he said that he feels sorry for the situation in Garo Hills and added that situation is quite peaceful in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
Earlier, during a programme, Shullai was felicitated for completing his 25 years as an MDC of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council .