Suspense continues over Syiem’s political allegiance

SHILLONG: Suspense continues over Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief executive member PN Syiem’s political future with the suspended Congress leader saying that he would decide on his political allegiance next month.
The statement by Syiem, who is currently serving a three-year suspension notice slapped by the MPCC in October last year allegedly for “anti-party” activities, has only prolonged his apparent procrastination in regard to taking a decision on his political allegiance.
In fact, when asked last month about his political future, Syiem had said that he was still a suspended Congress MLA and the final decision whether to leave the party would be made known to the people by September.
Speculation has been rife since the past few months about Syiem not just joining People’s Democratic Front but being the leader of the regional party that was formed earlier this year.
The possibility of such a move was further substantiated by the “announcement” by members of district councils such as Hadrian Lyngdoh, James Ban Basaiawmoit and HS Shylla that Syiem was the leader of the regional party. The MDCs had spilled the beans during a function to welcome 12 MDCS to PDF last month.
Syiem however refrained from commenting on his delay in joining PDF.