Meghalaya: New twist to KHADC crisis; Nongsiej resigns as Chairman; election of new CEM postponed

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By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, July 12, 2018:

The political instability in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has taken a new twist as the election for the new
Chief Executive Member (CEM) could not take place today following the unexpected resignation of the chairman of the Council, L.G. Nongsiej.

In the absence of the Deputy Chairman, Nongsiej submitted his resignation to the Secretary of the Legislative today morning.

The election for the new CEM was fixed by the Governor at 2 pm today. The same will now take place tomorrow (Friday) at 11 am.

Talking to reporters here today, senior politician and NPP MDC, Hispreaching Son Shylla has questioned the timing of Nongsiej to resign as the chairman of the Council.

He also observed that he (Nongsiej) could have waited till election of the new CEM is completed before resigning from the chair.
"This only proves that he is a weak chairman who does not have the guts to make his own decision. This can be witnessed over the manner he conduct the business of the House. He was dictated by the former CEM on how to conduct the House," Shylla remarked.

ALSO READ | Meghalaya: KHADC political crisis deepens as PDF MDC comes forth to battle for CEM post

Meanwhile, he accused that the previous EC had 'intentionally' not appointed the Deputy Chairman since they had anticipated that this kind of situation will arise. "The election of the new CEM tomorrow will be presided over by the protem chairman to be nominated by the State Government. The protem chairman to be nominated will be from amongst the existing MDCs of the
Council," Shylla said.

Further, he claimed that the number of MDCs who extended their support to the Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA) has increase to 18 which included KHNAM MDC, Adelbert Nongrum and PDF MDC from Mawshynrut, Morningstar Mawsor.

It may be pointed out that on Monday evening, 17 MDCs belonging to various political parties had formed the Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA) and on Tuesday, after the resignation of PN Syiem as Chief Executive Member (CEM) without facing the no-confidence brought against him, they had chosen Hispreaching Son Shylla as their CEM.

ALSO READ | Meghalaya: KHADC gets new EC; HS Shylla likely to be new CEM

But on Wednesday morning when Shylla thought that it would be a smooth sailing for him since there would be no challenger for the post of CEM, he was in for a surprise after MDC, Grace Mary Kharpuri, who had a day earlier pledged her support to the KHDA, shifted to the rival camp.

While Shylla is the nominee of the KHDA for the post of CEM, Kharpuri is the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) nominee for the top post of the KHADC.

Shylla is the National People's Party (NPP) MDC from Nongkrem and Kharpuri is People's Democratic Front (PDF) member from Nongshken constituency.

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