SHILLONG: A no confidence motion by 17 MDCs against KHADC CEM P N Syiem will be taken up on Tuesday during the emergency special session and the indications are that a new CEM will be elected in his place.
Syiem, who is witnessing dissent in the council, has to “reply to the issues raised by the MDCs”, Nongkrem NPP MDC Hispreachingson Shylla told reporters on Monday. “Let the people know the truth. If he decides to resign before the session then it proves he is a coward,” he added.
The state government had recommended the special session to the governor after receiving an official complaint from 17 MDCs on the functioning of the executive committee led by Syiem.
The MDCs, who were part of the coup against Syiem, are from the United Democratic Party, Hills State People’s Democratic Party, National People’s Party and People’s Democratic Front.
Shylla said the Syiem-led Executive Committee has lost majority. “The MDCs will now get the opportunity to raise in the House the mismanagement of affairs of the council by the KHADC CEM,” he added.
Accusing Syiem of high-handedness and misrule for the last one and a half years, the veteran politician said, “It looks like he has taken the affairs of the Council as his personal property. He is dropping the executive members at his own whims and fancies… Instead of dropping the members, he should have stepped down.”
Replying to a query, Shylla said the decision to topple the current Executive Committee did not stem from Syiem’s decision to contest Ranikor by-poll because “as MDC and CEM, he is free to contest the election”.
Meanwhile, HSPDP MDC from Mawkyrwat Manstudy Nongrem said they have submitted the letter of withdrawal of support of all the 17 MDCs from the People’s Democratic Alliance to the chairman of the council on Monday.
He also informed that the 17 MDCs have formed the Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance. “We will elect the leader of this new alliance after the present EC is dislodged,” he said.
