SHILLONG: With several MDCs planning to contest the 2018 Assembly polls, the dual post Act brought by the Congress led MUA-II Government has turned out to be futile.
Several MDCs including those from the Congress are determined to contest the upcoming polls without resigning from their respective posts and in such a situation, the Act has no significance, a political observer said.
KHADC CEM PN Syiem recently said that it is clear from the verdict of the Election Commission of India that the MDCs who are also MLAs cannot be disqualified as it is not an office of profit.
While several MDCs had quit after the Government had hurriedly brought the dual post Bill which resulted in by polls in many constituencies in both KHADC and JHADC, Syiem refused to resign from the post.
His stand was vindicated by the decision of the Election Commission of India and the Meghalaya Governor.
Syiem pointed out that it was a wasteful expenditure on the part of the Government to hold the by-polls.
An official with the District Council Affairs Department said that only an amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution can now prevent MDCs from holding the post of MLAs and till that time, the MDCs can contest the Assembly polls and hold dual charges.
The amendment proposed by the Centre is still pending for clearance.
