THE MDA is just about four months old but the supporting partners are already creating a situation which exposes the unstable nature of coalition politics in Meghalaya. PN Syiem who joined the Peoples’ Democratic Front (PDF) of which he was the architect, after resigning from the Congress Party in December 2017 to contest the Assembly elections, now seems to be calling the shots in that Party. The rumblings in the Khasi Hills District Council are tied to non-transparent use and distribution of development funds by the Chief Executive Member (CEM), PN Syiem who had earlier lost the Assembly elections to his Congress rival HM Shangpliang. Now the four MDCs who had joined the NPP want to disassociate themselves from the ruling dispensation in the Council formed by an alliance between the PDF, UDP, NPP, BJP and Independent. There have been allegations that PN Syiem as the CEM has not been transparent in the use of development funds amounting to Rs 33 crore released by the Centre to the Council. It is alleged that Rs 28 crore was diverted towards maintenance of the Council’s assets. In May this year, James Sylliang, PDF and member of the Executive Council was unceremoniously dropped after he demanded a special session to discuss why the Rs 33 crore which should have been distributed to the MDCs for development of their respective constituencies was instead used for, “Council assets” a term that is vague and reeks of non-transparent use of public funds.
James Sylliang had publicly alleged that a ceiling in the KHADC was dismantled even though it was still in good condition just to make way for renovation. Other MDCs too are feeling the heat since the District Council elections are scheduled for early next year and they have to show some proof of development if they are to be reelected. This is what is causing concern for the sitting MDCs. But PN Syiem has other ideas on the use of Council funds and he is unwilling to subject himself to an open discussion in a special session of the House. A CEM is not a law unto himself. He is accountable to the Council but this is something alien to Syiem who has run the Council like a fiefdom; hence the tremors now. It is unfortunate that Syiem is now trying to hold the MDA Government to ransom.