By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 25: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has nominated Nongthymmai MDC Winston Tony Lyngdoh as the new Chief Executive Member (CEM)-designate of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The decision was taken on Thursday during a meeting of the VPP’s State Executive Committee (SEC), chaired by party president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, and attended by 17 of the party’s 18 MDCs. Former CEM Shemborlang Rynjah was absent due to health issues.
The nomination comes a day after Rynjah resigned as the CEM, with his resignation letter formally forwarded to the Governor by the KHADC Secretariat on Thursday morning.
Along with Lyngdoh’s nomination, the SEC named Jaiaw MDC Denzil R Chen as a new Executive Member of the council.
Basaiawmoit told reporters the decision on the CEM was unanimous, aimed at ensuring stability in the council’s administration following Rynjah’s resignation.
“We understand he needs to focus on his health and treatment. Today, the party met to discuss how to move forward in managing the affairs of the council,” Basaiawmoit said.
To a query, he said the party decided against appointing a Deputy CEM, noting that such a position would not serve any purpose in the event of political instability. “The present EC (Executive Council) stands dissolved, and a new EC will have to be formed,” he added.
Lyngdoh, a graduate from St. Anthony’s College, holds diplomas from IIEM Bangalore and IIE Guwahati, and previously served as Coordinator of World Vision. Chen is a law graduate with over a decade of experience as a practicing advocate.
Earlier, Basaiawmoit asserted that the party’s presence in the KHADC is not to engage in conflict with the state government, but strengthen the functioning of the council. He stressed that there should be no conflict between the two entities as long as they operate within their constitutional boundaries.
While certain departments are under the purview of the state government, others are specifically entrusted to the autonomous councils. “Problems arise when the government forcefully infringes upon these powers, since the council is an autonomous body under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” Basaiawmoit said.
He reiterated the VPP’s opposition to the state government’s proposal to directly pay the salaries of the employees of the councils. He suggested that the government increase budget allocations or provide a one-time bailout package to help the councils meet their obligations.
He recalled that during the recent Autumn session of the Assembly, the VPP had pressed for the release of pending revenue shares due to the councils.
Deputy Chief Minister and DCA in-charge Prestone Tynsong had then assured the House that steps would be taken to ensure timely disbursal of these funds.
Basaiawmoit pointed out that while the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council continue to face severe financial strains, the KHADC’s finances have improved in some departments due to better revenue collection.
Highlighting the achievements of the VPP-led EC over the past five to six months, he said the council has witnessed a shift towards clean and transparent governance.
“We are happy to see the changes. Staff and officers have themselves acknowledged the difference in functioning since the new EC took charge,” he said.
One of the major reforms, he noted, was the decision to streamline recruitment through the constitution of a Recruitment Committee to ensure transparency—something that lacked for decades.
“People no longer fear they have to pay for their work in the council. We are committed to delivering corruption-free governance,” Basaiawmoit said.
He further stated that the EC has been cautious in its decision-making, carefully examining every issue before arriving at a conclusion.
He said the VPP’s most MDCs are newcomers in active politics, committed to serving people with integrity and transparency.
