SHILLONG, Feb 3: The Congress in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has claimed the Governor’s decision to convene the special session of the council for the election of its chairman on February 7 is against the provision laid down in the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
The Governor’s notification on the special session was issued on Thursday.
Congress parliamentary party leader in the KHADC, PN Syiem told reporters on Thursday that the office of Deputy Chairman has fixed the date for filing of nomination on Friday but the Autonomous District Rules clearly state that it should be one day before the election of chairman. “If we go by the rules, then the day of filing of nomination should fall on Sunday. The DCA (District Council Affairs department) and the Governor’s Secretariat should have studied the AD Rules to ensure that the notification, issued for fixing the special session, does not contradict the AD rules,” Syiem said.
He said this clearly reflected the DCA department’s weakness in briefing the Governor of the rules of the council.
“We understand that it is within the discretionary powers of the Governor to convene this special session. But the Governor is not above the rules,” Syiem said and questioned the urgency in holding the special session.
“We could have waited till the Budget session in March. There is no urgency to convene a special session since the Deputy Chairman is still there who can conduct the business of the House,” the Congress leader argued.
He said the Congress parliamentary party will meet on Friday to discuss if it will contest the election.
“We understand that we have only eight MDCs while the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has 22,” Syiem added.
The UDA will field National People’s Party (NPP) MDC, Lamphrang Blah. The post of the chairman fell vacant after the incumbent, Pyniaid Sing Syiem of the NPP, had tendered his resignation on Tuesday to make way for Blah.
KHADC CEM, Titosstarwell Chyne said the United Democratic Alliance has decided to accept the proposal of the NPP parliamentary committee to field Blah for the post of chairman.
He revealed that the NPP told him that they would project Blah as the party nominee from Mawphlang for the post of chairman.
“It is the discretion of the NPP to decide who they want to project for the post of chairman in the KHADC,” Chyne added.