SHILLONG: Equator L. Nongrang, the UDP MDC from Mairang, has been elected as deputy chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Friday after the candidate for the People’s Democratic Alliance withdrew.
During the session, pro-tem chairperson Teilinia Thangkhiew said she received the withdrawal letter of Morningstar Mawsor, who was the other candidate, in the morning.
“The People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) did not get the required number and hence they withdrew the candidature,” chief executive member HS Shylla told reporters after the election of the deputy chairman.
Criticising PDA for playing “dirty politics”, Shylla said its MDCs should not have abstained from participating in the election and should have gracefully accepted defeat.
“We are governed by the rules of law. We met the MDCs (of PDA) outside the House but they did not enter even if they withdrew gracefully since there is no majority,” the CEM said during the session as he referred to Rule 32(1).
“When at the beginning of the new District Council or owing to the vacancy in the office of the Chairman, the election of a Chairman is necessary, the Governor shall fix a date for the holding of the election and the Secretary of the District Council or in his absence,
) the Deputy Commissioner, shall send to every member notice of the date so fixed,” the rule says.
“On our part, we cannot fix date for the post of chairman and CEM,” Shylla said.
Taking a dig at PDA, the CEM said, “Now this comes down to dirty politics. And this is very upsetting, when there is no majority, it should be accepted gracefully.”
According to Shylla, PDA should sit in the opposition and become constructive.
Thangkhiew was also upset at the absence of the opposition members. She urged them to attend the upcoming sessions of the council.
