SHILLONG, Dec 12: Amidst speculation about the Congress’s potential withdrawal from the Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in the coming days, the Council is gearing up to address grievances stemming from the contentious delimitation decision.
The KHADC EC has decided to discuss the demands of residents from 21 villages in the Mawshynrut area during the two-day winter session of the Council, set to begin on December 19. These residents oppose the realignment of their villages to the Rambrai-Jyrngam constituency, arguing they should remain part of Mawshynrut constituency.
The delimitation committee itself had recommended in its report that these villages stay with Mawshynrut. Villagers have claimed the decision to realign them was made without adequate explanation.
In response to protests led by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) at the Council premises on November 4, the KHADC had agreed to review the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Constitution of District Council) (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
The EC is now considering reverting the 21 villages to Mawshynrut during the upcoming winter session.
Speaking to reporters after an EC meeting, KHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngain N Syiem stated that the Council had received representations from the 21 villages requesting their realignment with Mawshynrut.
“We have informed the JAC delegation that this matter will be placed before the Executive Committee,” Syiem said, adding that the EC has decided to recommend realignment of the villages back to Mawshynrut. “The final decision will rest with the House during the upcoming session,” he said.
Syiem also mentioned another realignment issue involving a village shifted to Mairang constituency, whose residents are now requesting to be returned to Sohiong.
He confirmed that this matter would also be recommended to the House for a decision.
Earlier, Syiem explained that while the delimitation committee had aimed to balance voter numbers, some areas, such as Mawlai, underwent minimal changes due to local objections.
Meanwhile, sources from the Congress have indicated that internal discussions regarding the party’s withdrawal of support from the NPP-led EC in KHADC have taken place.
These discussions involved the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, the All India Congress Committee (AICC), and the two Congress MDCs, Pynshngain N Syiem and Ronnie V Lyngdoh.
Party sources revealed that the two MDCs are expected to convey their final decision within the next couple of days. Both have reportedly been under pressure to pull out of the EC.
Previously, presidents of the District Congress Committees and leaders from the party’s frontal wing had written to AICC secretary in charge of Meghalaya, Dr A Chella Kumar, urging him to direct Syiem and Lyngdoh — who is also a sitting MLA — to withdraw their support from the ruling coalition in the KHADC.
