SHILLONG: The four MDCs who had defected to the Congress-led People’s Democratic Front (PDF) were on Friday rewarded with plum portfolios by KHADC Chief Executive Member Pynshngain N Syiem.
Mawlai MDC Process T Sawkmie, who is also the Deputy CEM, was given charge of Development and Health & Sanitation while Mawhati MDC James Sylliang has been given charge of Trade and Enforcement.
Mawkyrwat MDC Hedrian Lyngdoh has been charge of Taxation, Water Resources and Fisheries while the lone woman MDC in the EC, Grace Mary Kharpuri, has been allocated Forest and Marriage & Divorce department.
Among the Congress MDCs, Antonio War will be holding charge of Finance and Arts & Culture while Lamphrang Blah will look after Elaka and Revenue Collection.
Senior Congress MDC Jansing Tynsong has given charge of Council Buildings and Information & Technology.
Banteidor Lyngdoh has been allocated Labour and Youth Affairs department while and Donevan Wanlang has been charge of Land and Mines & Minerals. Both are first-time members of the KHADC.
The KHADC CEM has kept General Administration, Planning, Market, Education, Posting and Transfer and all non-allotted departments with himself.
Later, speaking to newsmen, Syiem denied that the four defectors had been allotted plum portfolios.
“I believe that all the MDCs will be happy with my decision. I have tried my best to accommodate the interest of all members of the People’s Democratic Front,” Syiem said, adding that the EC will soon take a decision on filling up one more post of EM.
KHADC demands Guv assent to VAB
The KHADC Executive Committee on Friday impressed upon Governor V. Shanmuganathan the need to pass the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014, at the earliest.
“We have told the Governor of the urgency of passing the bill to address the current stalemate in view of the High Court ruling which had stripped the powers of the Rangbah Shnong. The Governor along with the State Government can come up with some kind of arrangement to pass the bill,” KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem told newsmen after paying a courtesy visit to the Governor along with some EMs.
Syiem also informed that they had highlighted the present state of affairs where the general public have been facing lots of difficulties since Rangbah Shnong have been barred from issuing certificates.
The KHADC CEM mentioned that the Governor was briefed on the Land Bill which was passed by the Council.
Syiem further said that they requested the Governor to come up with some kind of system to address the issue of delay in passage of several bills passed by the KHADC which have been pending with the State Government for years.