PN Syiem takes on Mukul Sangma on 'style of functioning'

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Shillong, Oct 1: Not wary of being a lone ranger in taking against the State government on the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bills, 2015, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Autonomous District Council (KHADC) PN Syiem has now trained his gun against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. Syiem who is also a sitting two time Congress MLA from  Mawsynram constituency told a group of jourlist at his office chamber inside the State Secretariat on Thursday  that his stand is not against the party but against the system and the style of functioning of the government.  Asked specifically on the reference ‘on the style of functioning’ is a reflection of his tirade against the Chief Minister, Syiem laughingly said, “It’s up to  you to interpret”, even as he negated the notion that he is waging a lone battle against his own government on the issue of dual post.

Syiem is the only MLA cum MDC who has not resigned from any of the twin post even as seven other legislators cum members of the district councils resigned from the latter to avoid disqualification from the legislative Assembly.

Taking on the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Congress MLA and present Chief Executive Member of the KHADC said, “The Bill was brought in such haste that nothing was discussed in the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) or the Meghalya United Alliance (MUA) ahead of the just concluded Assembly session.”

“We had a MUA dinner party and the next thing that crop up was approval of the bill by the cabinet and its subsequent tabling followed by the endorsement of the House in three days time,” stated an aggrieved Syiem.

He termed the Bill that is awaiting the governor’s assent of being plaque with technical flaws, a reason that he advocated for its return for further deliberations.

He refused to comment on the queries pertaining to possible vindictive method adopted by the Chief Minister.

It may be mentioned that the current state Minister of District Council Affairs (DCA) HDR Lyngdoh was the first to submit his resigtion followed by HSPDP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit before other six followed suit due to fear of disqualification. However, the governor has not given his assent to the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015.