By Kenny Jyrwa
For nearly a year now, Mylliem has been left orphaned by its so-called elected representative. Since March 9, our MLA has been missing—not in the literal sense, but in spirit, in action and in responsibility. What we are witnessing is not just political negligence; it is a full-scale abandonment of duty, a blatant betrayal of public trust, and an insult to the very essence of democracy.
When the people of Mylliem cast their votes, they were not just marking a ballot—they were placing their hopes, their struggles and their future in the hands of an individual they believed would represent them with integrity, dedication and vision. But what has happened since then? Nothing. Silence. Absence. Neglect. Our representative has all but vanished, treating the mandate given to him as nothing more than a symbolic victory, rather than a solemn obligation to serve.
This is more than just political failure—it is an outright mockery of the people of Mylliem. It is a slap in the face of every voter who believed in the democratic process. It is an unforgivable betrayal of the very foundation of governance. How can an MLA, who holds the sacred duty of being the voice of the people, be so indifferent to the suffering, needs, and aspirations of those who put him in power?
What does it mean to be an MLA?
It is not just a title or a privilege to travel in a tinted expensive XUV or the privilege to blast the siren when stuck in a traffic jam. It is not just a position of power. It is a commitment—an unbreakable contract between the leader and the people. It means being present. It means listening, responding and taking action. It means bringing development, addressing grievances in and out of the four walls of the Assembly and ensuring that the people are not forgotten. But in Mylliem, the MLA seems to just love the media attention and play his victim card.
Despite holding office, our MLA is absent in every conceivable way. No leadership, no engagement, no initiative. The Constituency remains plagued by countless unresolved issues—deteriorating roads (which ironically was solved by the former MLA and the government in power), poor school infrastructure, the list goes on and on. But the big question remains – Where is our MLA when we need him the most?
In just a span of two years, the former MLA has brought multiple indoor stadiums to the constituency, widened roads in almost every locality, facilitated the construction of infrastructure, and promoted self-employment through government-aided schemes. The former MLA is not a ‘saviour,’ but he is the kind of representative a constituency like Mylliem deserves.
For the incumbent MLA, there is no excuse for this level of incompetence. Old age could be a factor, or perhaps he simply does not care or no longer wishes to serve.
The lamenting tears and the victim card does not make a representative a Leader, because true leadership is about action, about standing with the people, about being visible and accessible at all times.
To have an MLA who vanishes for months on end is worse than having no MLA at all. At least with an empty seat, there is no false hope, no illusion of representation. But, luckily all hope is not lost for the people of Mylliem as there are leaders who still have the courage to lead, the courage to stand for the people in need be it in the frontline or the silent help, the people of Mylliem knows who these silent saviours are who when approached will never hesitate to stand, speak and help the needy.
When his party members decided to leave and join hands with the government, was it a wrong move? Politically, it may have been seen as unethical, but in reality, it was a win for the people. The three who left did not do so for personal gain or ambition; had they sought cabinet positions, their intentions could have been questioned. Instead, they demanded real development—better roads, a C&RD block office, school buildings, and colleges.
Yet, ego prevailed over leadership. Our MLA chose to cling to his seat, even when it brought no value to the people. True leadership is about making difficult but necessary choices for the greater good, not about holding on to power for personal pride or stubbornness.
Had he made the right decision then, Mylliem could have been a different story today—more development, more opportunities and a better future for its people. But now, all we are left with are BUTs and IFs—missed opportunities that could have changed the fate of Mylliem.
The time for patience is over, people are frustrated. The time for action is now as the upcoming KHADC election is near. Mylliem deserves better.
And lastly, let us not forget—the MLA who has been missing for a year is still our serving MDC. Just a reminder, in case we have forgotten.
(The writer is a concerned voter of Mylliem Constituency)