EC to decide on KHADC EM posts for UDP MDCs
SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Monday issued show-cause notices to MDCs Paul Lyngdoh and Teibor Pathaw setting a 24-hour deadline following their sudden decision to shift allegiance in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Pathaw who had won as an independent later joined the UDP.
The two MDCs were part of the UDP-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA). On Sunday, the two MDCs sent letters of support to the United Democratic Forum (UDF)-led coalition leader and KHADC CEM Latiplang Kharkongor.
Speaking to reporters after the UDP meeting on Monday, party General Secretary Jemino Mawthoh said, “As per the procedure of the party, we have issued show-cause notices to them to hear what they have to say about their support to the CEM.”
“We will send the notice tonight and they will be given 24 hours to reply. In a democratic system, let us be fair,” he added.
Mawthoh said that the party has to hear their justification as well.
He said that the KHADC functioning is not satisfactory and as a party, they are finding ways and means to bring about stability.
Asked if there is any fissure in the UDP camp, Mawthoh said even if there are differences, the MDCs will remain in the party.
On whether it was the desire to bag the CEM’s post that led to the development, he recalled that there has been an arrangement since the time of late Donkupar Roy that UDP MDCs – Teinwell Dkhar, Titos Chyne and Paul Lyngdoh — will get the post within five years.
Left after being slighted
The UDP MDC from Jaiaw-Mawprem Constituency, Paul Lyngdoh, has claimed that he and UDP MDC Teibor Pathaw left the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as they were sidelined by the leadership.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, Lyngdoh said that he welcomes the decision of the UDP to issue a show-cause notice to him, but maintained that circumstances had prompted them to support the Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Spilling the beans, he went on to say that MDCs of the UDA — Mitchell Wankhar, Macdalyn Sawkmie and Alvin K Sawkmie — were preparing to return to the UDA on the initiative taken by him, but it was prevented by the leaders.
Lyngdoh said that he would speak elaborately with the UDP leaders adding it was not about leadership post.
He said that the desire of the two MDCs is to see the functioning of the EC as people are in the dark with pending paper works sans any EC in the KHADC.
Meanwhile, KHADC CEM, Latiplang Kharkongor, said that the Executive Committee (EC) of the KHADC will decide pertaining to the allotment of Executive Member (EM) posts to UDP MDCs Paul Lyngdoh and Teibor Pathaw.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Kharkongor said the two MDCs have extended support to the United Democratic Forum (UDF) led by Kharkongor.
It may be mentioned that so far, Lyngdoh and Pathaw are the two MDCs from UDP who have joined UDF.
As for Independent MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri, Chairman of KHADC, PN Syiem, said that they have requested her to re-join and take the post of deputy CEM, which she refused. However, Kharkongor and Syiem said that they welcome her if she re-joins.
Asked, Kharkongor said that they are expecting others to join the UDF in the coming days. With the support extended by Lyngdoh and Pathaw, the strength of the UDF has gone up to 15 MDCs.