Late even for swearing-in

SHILLONG/JOWAI: The newly elected members of Khasi and Jaintia Hills autonomous district councils were sworn in on Wednesday.
The new MDCs in both the councils set a poor precedence on the first day. While one KHADC MDC came late for the swearing-in, the session at JHADC started late and the deputy who chaired the session had to wait because members came in late.
Since the oath-taking ceremony was done constituency-wise, UDP’s Ryngkatlang Lyndem, MDC of Lyngkyrdem-Laitkroh, missed his chance as he was late. He took oath after the 28 MDCs were done.
Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills Matsiewdor War Nongbri administered the oath to the newly elected MDCs.
In Jaintia Hills, Saphai MDC Habahun Dkhar came 40 minutes after the session started. As the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills, Garod LSN Dykes, called his name he was seen entering the session hall. Dkhar went to take his oath before looking for his seat.
NPP MDC from Sohryngkham Pyniaid Sing Syiem and UDP MDC from Mawlai Teibor Pathaw took oath in Khasi.
This time, the KHADC has only two women MDCs – Congress’s Grace Mary Kharpuri and PDF’s Macdalyne Sawkmie Mawlong.
In the last term, the KHADC had three women in its House – Kharpuri who retained her Nongshken seat, Teilinia Thangkhiew and Rona Khymdeit.
Thangkhiew and Khymdeit were ousted by Congress MDCs from their respective constituencies of Mylliem and Nongpoh.
The filing for nominations for chairman and chief executive member and scrutiny of papers were done on the same day.
Teinwell Dkhar, UDP MDC from Shella, and Pyngshngainlang Syiem, NPP MDC from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, filed for CEM and chairman post, respectively, and their papers were found valid.
In the JHADC, Thombor Shiwat of NPP and Lakhon Biam of UDP will be elected as CEM and chairman, respectively.
The election to the posts in both the councils will be held at 11 am and 2 pm, respectively, on Thursday.
In the JHADC, 19 of the 29 MDCs are newly elected.
Among the members were two veterans, Richard Sing Lyngdoh of Sutnga Nongkhlieh and Holando Lamin, who has been elected for the fourth time.
Other senior members in the JHADC are former CEMs Thombor Shiwat and Awhoi Andrew Shullai, former SDO (PWD) Lakhon Biam and Dr Sanki Shangpung who has been elected from Bataw-Lakadong.