Nongrem, Cong leaders plan to join HSPDP
MAWKYRWAT: The Congress has suffered a major blow in Mawkyrwat constituency with the president of South West Khasi Hills District Congress Committee and Ranikor MDC, Manstudy Nongrem and several Congress leaders set to join the HSPDP after differences within the party
The Congress leaders will support Renik L. Tongkhar in the next Assembly elections due to differences within the party.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on condition of anonymity, some Congress leaders informed that differences arose when a section of party members complained to Ranikor MLA, MM Danggo against Nongrem, accusing him of not supporting the Congress candidate from Mawkyrwat constituency, Carness Sohshang.
“The accusation irked Nongrem and many leaders because it was Nongrem who gave Sohshang the chance to apply for the ticket by not applying himself,” they said.
The disgruntled leaders also informed that a meeting was held on Thursday at Mawkyrwat in which many Congress leaders, including Nongrem, were present.
“In the meeting we have discussed many things. Several leaders do not want to stay in the Congress anymore and also do not want to contest the election because time is short. A decision was made and accordingly all the leaders joined HSPDP to support Renik in the next election,” one of the leaders said.
The leaders also informed that Nongrem has agreed to join HSPDP and will soon submit his resignation letter to the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee. “Soon we will meet with the leaders of HSPDP and arrange for a meeting to welcome Nongrem, the leaders and his supporters,” the leader said.
KHADC chief asked to convene session on AD rule
SHILLONG: The Mawsynram Constituency Development Society (MCDS) has demanded from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief executive member, P.N Syiem to convene a special session to pass the AD rule that bars non-tribals from voting in the council elections.
The MCDS demanded there should be the amendment to Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils), Rules, 1951.
MCDS president Diralson Dkhar said the Society supported the demand of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) to amend Rule 128.
“If Syiem works for the welfare of the indigenous people, then he should convene a special session in the KHADC,” he said.
Dkhar questioned the intention of Syiem for his early resignation as he served only four years and nine months in office as MLA instead of five years.
VVPAT demo today
SHILLONG: The VVPAT- EVM demonstration will be held on Friday at 12 pm for all the political parties at the DC’s conference room to provide exposure to all parties.
Doubts on VVPAT are expected to be cleared and concerns are likely to addressed during the meeting .
The chief electoral officer Frederick Kharkongor said that all EVMs and VVPATs which will be used are cleared after first level checking and will adhere to ECI protocol on aspects related to mock poll clearing .The entire exercise will be held in camera and video graphed, he added
VVPAT awareness Van has already been deployed to create awareness in Khasi Jaintia Hills region. Another one will be deployed with DC, Tura for awareness in Garo Hills region
USTM conducts workshop on Microbiology & Immunology
NONGPOH: A seven-day workshop conducted by the School of Biological Sciences, USTM held its inaugural session on Thursday.
The aim of the workshop is to promote the exploration into the world of microbes for the benefit of mankind.
As explained by the head of the Department of Microbiology ‘the purpose is to address and cover the knowledge -gaps regarding basic and molecular techniques in Microbiology and Immunology for students, research scholars, industry and laboratory personnel’.
The workshop started with a welcome address by R.K Sharma, Pro-VC, USTM followed by Suresh Ch Das, Dean, School of Biological Sciences, USTM and Ranjan Dutta Kalita, HoD, Dept. of Biotechnology.
Body found
SHILLONG: An unidentified male was found lying near City Hut Dhaba, Shillong on December 5, 2017 and was taken to Civil Hospital. However, on December 12, the unidentified person expired while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Inquest and other legal formalities have been observed and the body of the deceased was sent to SDM&HO Civil Hospital for post mortem examination.
The deceased is approximately 60 years of age with a height of 160cm; he has an oval face and a swarthy complexion. He was found wearing a khaki shirt.The body is now being kept at the Civil Hospital morgue.