SHILLONG: Just minutes after the Assembly on Thursday passed the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015, HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit resigned as KHADC MDC.
Basaiawmoit is the second MDC to resign after Congressman H.D.R. Lyngdoh in as many days.
The HSPDP leader submitted his resignation to KHADC Chairman Manstudy Nongrem.
When contacted, Basaiawmoit said he tendered his resignation since he had never inclined to become both an MDC and an MLA.
“From the beginning, I have made it very clear that I do not have a problem with the Amendment Bill passed by the Assembly. But now everything is clear. So I have decided to relinquish my post as an MDC,” he said.
However, KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem (Congress), Metbah Lyngdoh and H.B. Nongsiej (both UDP) and K.P. Pangniang (HSPDP) have decided to wait it out and consult their friends, families and supporters before taking a call on the matter.
Maintaining a rebellious tone, the KHADC CEM said that he did not want to leave the ongoing movement against the move of the State Government to make laws on subjects under the jurisdiction of the Council, especially on the empowerment of the Rangbah Shnong.
“Before taking any decision I want to keep the interest of the indigenous community in front instead my own interest. I know this is very critical period for the indigenous community since there is an attempt to disturb the prevailing practice and custom which were there since time immemorial,” he said.
Syiem also asserted that he would consult his lawyers to explore possibilities of filing an appeal before the Court against the Amendment Bill.
The KHADC CEM further reiterated that the Amendment Bill should have either been introduced after the end of our term or should have been sent to a select committee.
Meanwhile, UDP legislator Metbah Lyngdoh and HSPDP MLA K.P. Pangniang have decided to take their supporters into confidence before taking any decision on quitting as MDC.
“I would have to go to my people before deciding to resign as MDC since they were the ones who had elected me,” Lyngdoh said, while adding that he would make up his mind within the next few days.
The HSPDP legislator accused the Congress-led MUA-II Government of flexing its muscle in the House by passing the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 in the Assembly.
“I am surprised at the urgency shown by the State Government in extending the Assembly session at the last minute in order to pass the Amendment Bill. I strongly suspect some ulterior motive behind this decision,” Pangniang said.
“The Amendment Bill is an insult to my people who had elected me. The State Government should have implemented this legislation in prospective and not in retrospective effect,” the HSPDP MLA said.
UDP legislator H.B. Nongsiej said that the party will meet on Saturday to deliberate on the passing of the Amendment Bill.
“I will also meet my supporters before taking a final call on this issue,” Nongsiej said.
NCP MLA-cum-MDC Sanbor Shullai could not be reached for comments as his cell phone was switched off.
