PN Syiem's fate sealed, Governor gives assent to bill

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Oct 8: Congress legislator from Mawsynram, PN Syiem, who is also an MDC, is all set to be axed after Governor V Shanmugathan gave his assent to the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015, today.

The amendment bill which was passed by the Meghalaya Assembly on September 24 prohibits MLAs to hold dual elected posts. According to government sources the Governor’s Secretariat forwarded the amendment bill to the Law department today.

“The matter has already been published in the Meghalaya Gazette after it was sent to the Government press on Thursday evening,” the sources informed. The letter to inform the Governor’s assent to the amendment bill was also sent to the KHADC chairman Manstudy Nongrem and Secretary of the Council. “I have received the intimation letter from the Law department today evening,” Nongrem told The Sentinel.

It may be noted that seven MLAs who are also MDCs had already resigned from the district councils. However, Syiem who is also the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) held his ground and refused to resigned from either of his posts. The seven MLAs who resigned as MDCs are-Cabinet Minister, HDR Lyngdoh (Congress), former Assembly Deputy Speaker, Sanbor Shullai (NCP), Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and KP Pangniang (both HSPDP), Metbah Lyngdoh and Brolding Nongsiej (both UDP) and Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council MDC from Amlarem Stephanson Mukhim (Independent). The Governor has approved the bill a day before the hearing on the PIL on the dual post is scheduled to be taken up by the Meghalaya High Court on Friday.