Exodus from Cong begins with Syiem

SHILLONG: Suspended Congress leader and KHADC chief executive member PN Syiem has become the first MLA to resign from the post on Friday, a day after the culmination of the Assembly session of the current term.
Syiem announced that he will join PDF during a public meeting at Polo Grounds on December 19.
Syiem submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker, who subsequently accepted the same.
“I hereby tender resignation of my seat in the House with immediate effect from December 15, 2017,” the two-time legislator from Mawsynram constituency said in the letter.
Following this development, Syiem will also resign from the Congress shortly.
In his letter submitted to the Assembly Speaker, Syiem did not cite any reason for his resignation.
The Speaker said as per the rules and conduct of business of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, legislators should not give any reason for resigning.
Besides Syiem, the Congress is set to lose Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Ngaitlang Dhar and Comingone Ymbon who will be joining NPP.
Syiem said he delayed his joining PDF since July as he had to raise many issues in the Assembly and added that the delay had nothing to do with waiting for MLA schemes.
To a question, Syiem said he would continue to hold the post of KHADC CEM.
Syiem said his intention to join the new party was to ensure implementation of new policies in the state as the Congress-led government has failed on all fronts.
The state has so much potential in tourism and other sectors but in the absence of effective policies, the educated youth have become unemployed, he added.
Govt wasted money after dual post Bill
Syiem, who challenged the dual post Bill brought by the Congress prohibiting MDCs to function as MLAs, said it did not bring in any desired result.
Following the Bill, the Congress government conducted by-polls to several district council constituencies which, according to Syiem, resulted in wasteful expenditure of over Rs 2 crore.