By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 25: After the Opposition opted out, Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) Mawhati MDC Kynjohlang Rangthong is all set to be elected as the new Deputy Chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) unopposed.
KHADC legislative wing secretary Balentine Sohtun on Tuesday said only Rangthong filed nomination. He also stated that the scrutiny of papers was held at his office chamber on Tuesday afternoon.
The election will be held on the first day of the Council’s budget session, which will begin on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the VPP-led Executive Committee (EC) in the KHADC will present a vote on account instead of the full budget during the three-day session.
On the first day of the session, Executive Member in-charge of Finance Seiborlang Warbah will present the vote on account which will be effective from April 1 to June 30. The vote on account will be passed on Friday, the final day of the session.
The EC will also table some reports, including the reports on the elections of the Wahadadar of the Shella Confederacy and the Sordar of Laitkroh Elaka.
The second day of the session has been reserved for the private members’ business.
The Opposition is likely to go soft against the new EC. “We do not have many issues to raise since this is the first session of the new House,” leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne had stated earlier.
He, however, emphasised that the Opposition expects the new EC to outline its policies for improving the Council’s overall functioning. He stated that as the new EC received an absolute mandate, it must meet public expectations through its governance.
Chyne said he has tabled two motions — one addressing unemployment and the other concerning the ban on stone quarrying and sand mining. He also said that the Opposition is keen to understand how the new EC plans to generate employment opportunities for local unemployed youth.
“We also want to hear from the EC about the measures it intends to take to address the challenges people are facing due to the ban on stone quarrying and sand mining,” he had stated.