Ruling, opposition members switch sides during course of session
JOWAI: The JHADC which in the past has often created records by having an Independent member as the chief executive member, breaking of chairs, throwing of microphones and other such unexpected activities, has once again created history when opposition members unexpectedly became part of the ruling group while some members of the ruling side switched sides to be in the opposition group on Tuesday.
UDP MDCs including Marki Mulieh, Moonlight Pariat and Violet Lyngdoh were seen sitting on the ruling side while others MDCs including Suk Shylla, Chanky Lyngdoh, Bison Iano and Skhem Suchiang (all Independents) were all seen sitting on the side of the opposition during the budget session. JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat informed that Suk Shylla, Chanky Lyngdoh, Bison Iano and Skhem Suchiang – all chairmen of committees under the JHADC – have been dropped from their posts. “More members will be dropped from their posts based on their activities with regards to the party rules and regulations,” Shiwat added.
On Wednesday, immediately after the two-day session ended, another MDC holding the post of chairman of some committee was dropped by the Thombor Shiwat led Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, in another first, questions put up by opposition members including Moonlight Pariat and Marki Mulieh to the Legislative department to be asked in the budget session were read out in the House without any supplementary question being asked even though they had switched over to the ruling side during the course of the session itself.
Moonlight Pariat and Obil Kyndait – both veteran politicians – later confirmed that during their tenure no such precedent had been recorded.
Some of the questions read out during the budget session included construction of Iawmusiang market, special assistance scheme, taxes collected by the Council, construction of check dams to protect rivers and NOC for setting up of the Lafarge cement plant in Jaintia Hills, besides others.