SHILLONG: UDP MDC Teinwell Dkhar was elected as the Chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) through secret ballot on Tuesday even as People’s Democratic Front (PDF) MDC, Grace Kharpuri staged a walkout.
The MDCs of PDF with the support of the Congress finally participated in the election to the post of Chairman which was marred by arguments in the beginning of the election process.
PDF MDC Kharpuri said that Pro-tem Chairperson, Teilinia Thangkhiew should not preside over the House as she is also party to the affidavit filed in the Meghalaya High Court.
To this, Thangkhiew said she has been authorized to preside over the House.
However, Kharpuri pointed out that Thangkhiew had also filed an affidavit.
When Thangkhiew stressed that she was following the notification of the Governor who has authorized the Pro-tem Chairperson to preside the session, Kharpuri replied, “You have lost your moral authority. You have lost your moral authority over here.”
Not budging from her stand, Thangkhiew said she sticks to the notification of the governor who authorized her to conduct the election.
Again, Kharpuri said, “This is sub-judice.”
Amidst the din, Thangkhiew asked the Secretary of the KHADC to call out names of the members who will take part in the voting.
Following this direction, the House was silent. However, Kharpuri added, “If this is so, we have to refrain from casting our votes.”
To this Thangkhiew said, “That is up to you.”
This compelled Kharpuri to walk out of the House.
After the election, Thangkhiew announced, “Teinwell Dkhar got 17 votes and Hadrian Lyngdoh got 10 votes.”
PDF chairman PN Syiem was absent on the day of the election, while Kharpuri refrained from voting.
It may be mentioned that during the election to the post of CEM and Deputy Chairman, the PDF and the Congress abstained from voting.
Later, speaking to reporters, Kharpuri justified her walkout though other PDF MDCs did not follow her.
“It is not that they did not support but since Hadrian Lyngdoh did not want to withdraw his candidature. His friends will have to support him,” she said.
Kharpuri reiterated that the Pro-tem Chairperson should have relinquished her chair and allowed the Deputy Chairman to take over.
Asked on the absence of Chairman of PDF, PP leader of PDF, James Ban Basaiawmoit said Syiem was busy.
During the election of the chairman, the KHADC CEM HS Shylla said, “There is misuse of the word sub-judice,” while pointing out that there is no order from the High Court.
“If there is an order from the Court then we have to honour it” he said.
Congress not with PDF
Congress MDC PT Sawkmie maintained that the party MDCs are in the opposition but they did not align with the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) which is led by PDF.
He reiterated that the four Congress MDCs are not in alliance with the PDA.
It may be mentioned that the Congress had extended their support to the PDA’s candidates for the post of CEM, Deputy Chairman and Chairman.
Anti-defection law
KHADC CEM HS Shylla has stressed the need to bring into force anti-defection law in the Council to bind the MDCs within their parties.
He added that there is a need to bring amendment to the rules of the District Council.
Hadrian’s complaint
PDF candidate for the post of Chairman, Hadrian Lyngdoh alleged that some MDCs sent him disturbing messages and pointed to a phone number which he says is an unknown number.
He had asked the newly elected Chairman, Dkhar to look into the matter, to which Dkhar said Lyngdoh can file an FIR on the matter.
However, he added that he suspected something suspicious as he received the message a day before the election of the CEM.
