SHILLONG, June 22: The UDP has accused Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong of masterminding the “political coup” in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The party termed the development as backstabbing and politically unethical.
“Prestone Tynsong, who engineered this, has become a liability in the NPP because all his candidates, including the one fielded in Sohiong, lost in the last election” a UDP functionary said, requesting anonymity.
The NPP and the UDP are partners in the MDA 2.0 Government but the former and the Congress, which is the state’s principal opposition party, had teamed up to dislodge the UDP-led KHADC executive committee led by Titosstarwell Chyne.
“The sudden toppling came as a bolt from the blue. This is not only backstabbing, but a form of aggression which is politically unethical,” the UDP source said.
The source claimed the UDP had provided the much-needed stability in the previous NPP-led government as well as the district councils in Khasi and Jaintia hills.
“The UDP has always honoured the agreement made with coalition partners not to disturb the equation so that the collective leadership will be able to address the problems, faced by the state, more effectively,” the source said.
Stating that stability is required to propel the state forward, the individual claimed, “The KHADC under the leadership of Titosstarwell Chyne was able to hold the EC together in the last four years and many important bills were passed unlike in the past.”
“This is probably engineered by those who feel threatened of the UDP’s strong base in Khasi and Jaintia hills. Despite the unfortunate drama, the UDP resolves to remain steadfast in its stand to continue to articulate the issues of people,” the UDP functionary said, adding, “If they want to hit us below the belt, we can do it too. We always try to restrain ourselves and project what the people want.”
