SHILLONG: In the run-up to the KHADC by-election, candidates from Nongkrem and district council constituency are pinning their hopes on the electorate who are, without a doubt, are unpredictable.
The candidates oozed confidence while speaking to The Shillong Times and spelled out some of the issues which need to be addressed and which might have an impact on the December 13 by-election.
Mamiry Nongkhlaw, the BJP candidate from Nongkrem constituency, is the only woman contesting the MDC by-election this year. Though contesting for the first time, Nongkhlaw was vocal about the problems in the constituency.
“I am not pleased with the previous leaders as the poor are neglected. I strongly urge other women to come forward in politics,” she said and vowed to work towards empowerment of women,
Commenting on the alleged communal nature of BJP, she said, “We know that India is a secular state and there is no partiality for Christians. There is nothing of that sort.”
Nongkhlaw also stressed on the right to administer and strengthen the traditional institutions by the KHADC and the indigenous people’s rights over land ownership.
Edarstar Lyngdoh Nongbri (KHNAM), said voters, who were once misled by the previous leaderships of the UDP and the HSPDP, are positively responding to the party.
Nongbri also called for more power to the KHADC. “The subjects that are usually under the KHADC have now been taken away by the State Government. My desire is to see that the administration of traditional institutions will be under the jurisdiction of the KHADC. At present, the power and authority of the district council has weakened,” he said.
The KHNAM candidate said the authority to issue ST certificates should have been with the KHADC but instead it is with the deputy commissioner’s office. He added that the subjects that envisage provision for the safeguard and protection of scheduled tribes should have remained with the district council.
HS Shylla of UDP asserted that every vote counts as it is an expression of the people’s consent or rejection of the State Government’s policies and laws. “It is the first time that an election is being held after the expansion of MUDA to rural areas. The issues are placed before the people and their vote shows whether they accept or reject the new policies or laws introduced by the State Government.”
“If people accept Congress or HSPDP then it would mean that they have agreed to MUDA’s expansion plan to rural areas at the same time,” he said.
To a question, Shylla said that the matrilineal society should remain intact. “We don’t want any change from matrilineal to patrilineal society, we should remain a matrilineal society as it is a unique identity.”
Voicing his concerns over the loopholes in the marriage act, Shylla said, “Although we are not against marriage registration, the question is how to register and to revoke the penalty clause.”
When asked on his thoughts on the amendment to the Sixth Schedule to prevent defection, he said, “Amendment to the Sixth Schedule will help in formulating anti-defection law.”
Hubert Ford Riang (HSPDP) is confident of winning as the party has seen the victory of HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit thrice. “We see a lot of support for the party here and we are hopeful of winning,” he said.
John Kharshiing, the Congress member who spoke on behalf of the party’s candidate, Lamborsing Nongrum, said there is a strong wind of change blowing in the constituency. “People want a local candidate and the same time they want to see a change in the constituency,” he added.
According to Kharshiing, the issues of codification of laws by all the Syiemships, Sirdarships and Lyngdohship, is the need of the hour.
“We need to assist the Syiem and Dorbar of Hima Khyrim to codify customary and social laws and legislate the Bill (Act and Rules) for Hima Khyrim Syiemship which the previous Nongkrem MDCs have failed to accomplish”, he said
Other priority issues are to address the problems of the people especially the issues related to the overlapping jurisdiction of MUDA vis-a-vis Sixth Schedule, to take up developmental works for the overall uplift of the Constituency, to protect the inalienable rights of the Khasi people over legislation, land water, forest and mineral resources.
