SHILLONG: The sudden decision of the State Government to bring the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 to disallow legislators from holding dual posts has caught everyone by surprise.
Inside sources revealed that the main reasons which prompted the State Government to bring the Amendment Bill was the opposition of the KHADC MDCs to the various decisions of the State Government, especially the issue of the Ordinance, and also the implementation of the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2011 outside the municipal areas. The sources further revealed that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was miffed with the attitude of KHADC Chief Executive Member Pynshngain N Syiem who, despite being part of the ruling Congress party representing Mawsynram constituency as legislator, had opposed the Congress-led State Government.
The chief minister was also unhappy that the KHADC CEM had mobilized the traditional heads to take on the State Government with regards to the issue of empowerment of the traditional institutions and also on the encroachment of MUDA into the Scheduled areas, the sources disclosed, while adding that the State Government had come up with this particular Amendment Bill with the specific intention of targeting the KHADC CEM.
“It is obvious that he (Syiem) would have to relinquish one of his posts – either as MDC or as MLA – once the Assembly approves the Amendment Bill,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, it is reported that most of the MLAs-cum-MDCs are unhappy with this decision of the State Government and are likely to meet on Wednesday to discuss their future course of action.
When contacted, the KHADC CEM said he did not want to comment anything at this juncture.
“I will make up my mind only after the amendment bill is tabled in the House,” Syiem said.
HSPDP MLA-cum-MDC Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, however, said he had no problem with the amendment bill since he had contested the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) election in 2014 and there was no law then to prevent sitting legislators from contesting for the post of MDC.
He also said that he had contested the MDC election as there was pressure from his supporters in the constituency, and added that he had never inclined to become both MDC and MLA.
“But now with this amendment bill everything is clear. I will happily tender my resignation if bill comes into force,” Basaiawmoit added.
