Former CEMs fail to felicitate Deputy Chairman

A Correspondent

Shillong, June 24: The failure of the opposition leaders, especially the two former Chief Executive Members (CEMs) -Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and Adelbert Nongrum - to take part in the customary address to congratulate the newly elected Deputy Chairman in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) -Gabriel Wahlang has raised eyebrows in political circles.

 Chairperson, Teilinia Thangkhiew who belongs to the opposition ARPA, also did not take part in the felicitation address.  ARPA leader Metbah Lyngdoh and Ro Khymdeit, both UDP MDCs, and other opposition members took part in the felicitation address.  Soon after the chairperson announced the election of Wahlang as the new Deputy Chairman, CEM Pynshngaiñ N Syiem and EM in-charge Fince Antonio N War was seen escorting him to his chair.  Sources in the ruling PDF said that as per convention in the district council, the CEM and the Leader of Opposition are supposed to escort the deputy chairman.  It may be noted that Wahlang of the ruling People's Democratic Front (PDF) who was nomited to the district council was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairman on the second day of the Budget Session of the KHADC.  The seat of Deputy Chairman was lying vacant after ARPA's Pyniaid Sing Syiem resigned from the post last year.