Dilly-dally may set Govt on a collision course with ADCs
SHILLONG: The issue of two nominated members is likely to bring both the Government and the district councils on a collision course due to political reasons.
While the KHADC Executive Committee (EC) will discuss on Monday whether to re-nominate Congress member Gabriel Wahlang, who had earlier resigned as nominated MDC to unsuccessfully contest the Nongstoin by-poll, the name of NPP leader Conrad Sangma as the nominated member proposed by the EC of GHADC is yet to be approved by the Government.
Wahlang was holding the post of Deputy Chairman when he resigned to contest the vacant Nongstoin seat.
It was on November 2 that the name of Conrad was cleared by the GHADC EC and the next day it was forwarded to the District Council Affairs department.
Earlier, the NPP-led Garo Hills Progressive Alliance had projected Conrad as the CEM of GHADC. The approval of Conrad as nominated member by the District Council Affairs department will enable him to take over the leadership of the Council from the present CEM Denang Sangma.
Sources said that the undue delay over the appointment of Conrad who was nominated nearly a month ago is due to alleged political reasons since the Congress-led government wants to adopt a wait and watch policy to prevent the strengthening of NPP in Garo Hills. However, a state Congress functionary has denied the charge of political interference.
As far as the re-entry of Wahlang to KHADC is concerned, KHADC CEM PN Syiem had indicated that he was not in favour of re-nomination of a member who had already resigned.
He had also mooted the idea of bringing a resolution to be moved by the EC to prevent re-entry of any nominated member by taking up the matter in a special session.
A Congress source said on Sunday that there can be a fresh tussle between the Chief Minister, who had earlier preferred Wahlang to be the nominated member, and the CEM who is still annoyed over the dual post Bill passed by the Government without due consultations.
The source also added that the Chief Minister was instrumental in giving ticket to Wahlang instead of another ticket aspirant from the party, Adviser Pariong.
When contacted to know the status of Conrad as the nominated member, an official source said that the Government was still examining the matter.
Regarding he re-entry of Wahlang, the official added that while EC was free to make its decision, and the Government will have to ultimately examine the matter.