There is a growing sentiment
among party workers that we risk facing a significant setback in
the elections if we do not end
our partnership with the NPP
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 5: The Congress party on Thursday acknowledged mounting pressure from party leaders, particularly grassroots workers, to withdraw support from the NPP-led Executive Committee (EC) in the council.
“The issue of withdrawing support is still being debated within the party. A final decision on whether we should pull out of the NPP-led coalition will be made in the coming days,” said KHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngain N Syiem, who also serves as the working president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), during a press briefing.
When asked whether it was appropriate to withdraw from the coalition just before the elections, Syiem stated that the party has been deliberating on the matter for the past six months. “This is not a new issue,” he explained. “Party workers have expressed dissatisfaction with our alliance with the NPP for some time.”
Syiem pointed out that the party workers feel the alliance could harm the Congress’s prospects in the upcoming KHADC elections. “There is a growing sentiment among party workers that we risk facing a significant setback in the elections if we do not end our partnership with the NPP,” he said.
Despite this, Syiem acknowledged the achievements of the current NPP-Congress-led Executive Committee.
“No one can deny that the EC has accomplished some good work,” he remarked, citing amendments to the Elaka Administration Act, 1991, which incorporated provisions from the Village Administration Bill (VAB).
He highlighted that the Council now officially recognises the Seng Samla and Seng Longkmie of the Dorbar Shnong through legislative action. Additionally, Syiem noted that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Amendment Act, 2023 introduced a clause for the recognition of Khasi clans.
“The amendment provides for the recognition of the Rangbah Kur, which ensures accountability and prevents self-styled individuals from assuming this role,” he said.
He also revealed that official records identify more than 3,000 clans within the council’s jurisdiction.
Among other achievements, Syiem highlighted the formulation of the Hima Khyrim Syiemship Act, 2024, which safeguards the traditions and roles of Hima Khyrim, including the Syiem, Basan, and Sardar Shnong, for future generations.
However, he expressed regret over the inability to finalise the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs did not table the bill in Parliament, but we managed to highlight its flaws to the ministry’s advisor,” Syiem added.
Cong ready for KHADC polls
Meanwhile, MPCC working president Syiem has assured that the Congress is well-prepared to field candidates in all 29 seats for the upcoming KHADC elections.
“There are many promising candidates who were denied tickets by the Voice of the People Party (VPP), and several of them are now considering contesting under the Congress banner,” Syiem said, emphasising that the party has no shortage of qualified contenders.
He claimed that public sentiment favors Congress as a viable alternative, adding, “Our prospects for the upcoming elections look very bright.”
Syiem also outlined the party’s process for finalising candidates. Application forms for aspiring candidates have been available since Tuesday, and completed forms must be submitted to their respective Block Congress Committees (BCCs) by December 13. “The BCCs will screen these applications and forward them to their respective District Congress Committees (DCCs) by December 17. The DCCs will then submit their recommendations to the MPCC in Shillong by December 19, after which the Pradesh Election Committee will finalise the candidate list,” he explained.
The MPCC working president urged loyal and capable individuals to step forward, saying, “The Congress is ready to invite candidates who are committed to serving the public’s best interests.”