Will HS Shylla contest again?

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Feb 22: Former KHADC chief Hispreaching Son Shylla today said that the District Council is an autonomous body and does not fall under any office of profit so the bill passed to amend the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 to prohibit people holding one public office from holding another elected office is still not clear and does not have a strong stand.

“According to Article 191 of the constitution of India it States that a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State specified in the First Schedule, other than an office declared by the Legislature of the State by law not to disqualify its holder,” Shylla told reporters on the sidelines of the rally organized by Nongkrem Constituency People’s Committee (NCPC) here at Smit today.

When asked about those MDC who have resigned relating to the Dual Post issue, Shylla said while two MDCs resigned on persol grounds before the Dual post Bill was pass, 5 MDCs resigned after the Dual Post Bill became effective while  CEM hold office since this Bill was not clear.

Stating that the article 191 is not complicated but very simple to understand, Shylla said that the MDCs who resigned after the Bill was passed should have gone through it properly being in the MLA level.

He also said that this slightly reflects that many of our legislators are still lacking behind and if they cannot understand simple laws how they can become lawmakers.

While lauding all 21 MDCs who supported PN Syiem as the CEM KHADC, Shylla however said “The resigtion of the HDR Lyngdoh is understandable because he is also a DCA minister but regarding the resigtion of the MDC from Nongkrem (Ardent M Basaiawmoit) only he can make us understand better.”

When asked about his me being proposed to contest for the KHADC by-poll, Shylla said it will be a hard decision for the State government to announce the election because the State government Dual Post law might not stand and the resigned MDC post might even be restore.

He further said that is those MDCs resigned on grounds that they can no longer hold the two posts then the election is mandatory but if they say that they resigned owing to the passage of the Bill then there is still hopes.

Meanwhile when asked about his preparation for the by-poll, Shylla however said it depends on the voice of the people because he himself had earlier announced that he will not contest for elections anymore and thinks people should first understand the principles and issues.

While sources said that Shylla is trying for UDP ticket to contest the by-poll, however, he is yet to formally apply for the ticket.

The UDP leadership has already authorized its Nongkrem circle to decide on the me of party candidate after receiving formal applications from aspiring contenders.

Shylla has represented Nongkrem constituency in KHADC twice – 1984 to 1988 and also from 2004 to 2009.

He had also served as CEM of KHADC from July 2004 to February 2008.

Shylla had contested the Assembly elections in 2003 and 2008 but was rejected by the Nongkrem electorates in both the elections.