SHILLONG, Feb 7: Mawphlang-Diengiei NPP MDC, Lamphrang Blah, was on Monday elected as the 27th chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) unopposed.
The election of the four-time MDC as the new chairman was announced by Deputy Chairman, Alvin Sawkmie, during the special session of the KHADC.
Blah was escorted by Council CEM Titosstarwell Chyne, Leader of Opposition Pynshngainlang N Syiem and former chairman Pyniaid Sing Syiem to his chair.
It may be mentioned that the opposition Congress had decided not to contest the Council election.
Earlier, Syiem, who is also the NPP MDC from Sohryngkham, had resigned from the chairman post, rendering it vacant.
It may be mentioned that this is the first time that the Mawphlang-Diengiei NPP MDC will occupy the post of the chairman of the Council despite being elected as an MDC since 2004.
The four-time NPP MDC had earlier held the position of an Executive Member and also as the Leader of Opposition in the KHADC.
While congratulating Blah on his election as the new KHADC chairman, the CEM said that he is confident that Blah will be able to invigorate the overall functioning in the Council.
Chyne also accentuated the need to build a better coordination between the legislative and the Council.
During the special session, the Leader of Opposition in the KHADC also suggested the need to bring necessary amendment to Assam-Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Rules. “It is important to amend the AD Rules since there are provisions which are no longer relevant in the present,” Syiem said.
In his address to the House, the KHADC chairman-elect exhorted all members to cooperate to improve the Council and its functioning.
On Syiem’s suggestion to amend the Assam-Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Rules, Blah said he will closely coordinate with the Executive Committee on how to move forward with it.
“Both the Legislative and Executive Committees will need to discuss as proposal already was submitted to amend the AD Rules during the tenure of late HS Shylla as the CEM. This proposal is pending with the government,” he said.
“I will be closely following up with the state government on the bills passed by the Council which are pending with the state government,” the KHADC chairman-elect informed.
It may be mentioned that members from both the treasury and opposition bench took part in the felicitation of the four-time NPP MDC.