Govt firm on bringing AR in KHADC: Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 29, 2019

SHILLONG: The state government has decided to stick to its decision for bringing administrator’s rule in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

Deputy chief minister Prestone told syllad.com that the state government has already received information about the ongoing political development in the Council.

“But still we will not accept because the situation in the KHADC keeps on changing. Therefore, we stick to our decision that the best way (to resolve the ongoing tussle for power) is to bring administrator rule,” Tynsong said while reacting to the claims made by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of having majority in the 29-member House.

The state Cabinet had for the second time decided to recommend to the Governor for invoking of Administrator Rule in the KHADC due to political instability.

The deputy chief minister however said the recommendation of the state government is still pending before the Governor.

“In order to be neutral, the state government will ensure that administrator rule is invoked,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had also said,”We are of the view that at this point of time the Governor should take over the administration so that things can settle down. The Administrator Rule would continue till a clear picture may emerge after weeks or months.”

Stating that instability still exists even now in the KHADC, Sangma had said, “This is not a very healthy practice since it is leading to horse trading and creates an unhealthy environment within the council. This needs to be dealt with in a manner which would ensure some sense of stability in the system.”

The KHADC is witnessing a very peculiar situation where the majority is continuously shifting from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to the United Democratic Forum (UDF).

It may be recalled that the strength of the UDA has increase to 16 in the House of 29 following the decision of the Independent MDC from Nongshken Grace Mary Kharpuri and Congress MDC from Mairang-Nongkhlaw, Batskhem Ryntathiang to shift allegiance to the alliance.

The strength of United Democratic Front (UDF) had been reduced to 12 minus the chairman of the Council.

Earlier, the state government had first recommended for invoking of Administrator Rule after the UDP led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was topple after five members of the ruling alliance voted in favour of the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition Congress. The Governor Tathagata Roy however declined to invoke the Administrator’s Rule.