Govt recommends Administrator’s rule in KHADC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 22, 2019

SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on Friday recommended Administrator’s rule in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC). 

The decision was also announced after Independent MDC from Nongthymmai Latiplang Kharkongor of the United Democratic Forum (UDF), was elected as the new chief executive member (CEM) of the Council today. 

The UDF comprised of the Congress, NPP, PDF and Independents, was formed after the collapsed of the United Democratic Party (UDP)-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) executive committee in a No-confidence vote on November 20. 

The UDA lost by one vote after the Chairman of the Council Pynshngain N Syiem, also an NPP MDC from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, casted his vote in favour of the motion moved by the Congress. Syiem’s role came in when the House ended in a tie 14-14. 

However, the UDA members had abstained from the election to the post of the CEM after former KHADC chief Teinwell Dkhar withdrew his candidature at the eleventh hour, which was received but not accepted by the Chairman. 

Later after the CEM’s election, a delegation comprising of 14 UDA members met deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong and sought the state government’s intervention into the political development in the KHADC arising out of what they alleged is the “unconstitutional role” of the Chairman.

Tynsong, also an NPP leader, gave a patient hearing to the delegation and subsequently held a separate meeting with the officials of the District Council Affairs (DCA) department to discuss on the matter. 

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the deputy chief minister admitted that the situation in the KHADC is a fit case to bring in Administrator’s rule and said, “Appropriate recommendation has been made to the Governor Tathagata Roy last night. Let us see the Governor has to ultimately decide.” 

Asked, Tynsong said, “There is no option…now the situation is so peculiar where you have a tie 14-14 (in the House) so it is dangerous as the functioning of the Council will become so uncertain. If this is the situation, we clearly understand that it will surely create instability and this will lead to the formation of too many executive committees (ECs).” 

He also maintained that the decision taken is not that the state government wants to ensure that the UDA continues to be in power in the KHADC. 

“It is not that I wanted to make sure that the UDA continues but I am talking about the issue of instability be it to that new alliance where they have just formed or be it to the old alliance but I am telling you from the government side it is concerned about the instability in the KHADC,” he added. 

Whether the recommendation made will have to get the Cabinet’s approval, Tynsong however said that consultation has been made as the issue is something which needs government to take an immediate call. 

While admitting that the rules allow the Chairman to exercise his role, he however said according to his interpretation, there is a tie in the House. 

Stating that he is not supporting any side, Tynsong reiterated his stand by saying “I am concern about the stability of both sides be it the new alliance or old alliance. It is not that my party or old alliance lost the confidence it is not that but I am talking about the reality and concern about the functioning of the Council. If the trend continues like this, you tell me can the EC decide anything and ultimately in next session another EC will come up. It is so dramatic and I personally feel it is not fair at all.” 

To a query, the deputy chief minister said the problem faced by the autonomous district councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya and other North East states is the absence of the anti-defection law. 

“Anybody can do anything and that is why we have already proposed in the amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution that the Tenth Schedule has to be incorporated and once this is done, I am telling you any EC in the ADCs can work well and concentrate more in their official functioning than in the political functioning,” he stated.