Sawkmie refutes allegations, says Syiem a 'good friend]

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 3: Mawlai MDC and Deputy Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Process T Sawkmie today rubbished the allegation that he is attempting to dethrone Pynshngainlang N Syiem from the post of Chief Executive Member (CEM).

In a statement issued here today Sawkmie said that the allegations of Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM) working president Adelbert Nongrum was to create misunderstanding between him and Syiem.

Sawkmie also said that despite the allegations he and Syiem maintain a good understanding and so their relationship will not be affected since both are “good friends”.

“It is a known fact that the CEM’s post belongs to the Congress since they are the major constituent of the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF),” Sawkmie said.  

“The statement made by Nongrum is just a cover up because the party had earlier made many comments against the PDF but now they have changed their stand,” Sawkmie added.

It may be mentioned that recently, the KHM claimed that the reason they have joined the ruling PDF in the District Council is to stall the attempts of Sawkmie to dethrone PN Syiem as the CEM KHADC.

Sawkmie is an MDC who defected from KHM and accommodated as Deputy CEM of KHADC in the Congress led Executive Committee (EC).

Taking cudgels against Sawkmie and subsequent decision of the party to support the PDF, KHM working president made it clear that the party is up to take on the nefarious designs of their former comrade in arms. The KHM claimed that there is a strong attempt to replace Syiem as the CEM.  “We did not join and support the PDF because of PT Sawkmei or Latiplang Kharkongor but we gave our support specifically to the CEM because as we have observed he is the only one who can go head to head with the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who has been going against the traditiol customs and beliefs of our people,” Nongrum of the KHM had said.