Shillong Mar 3: Senior leader of the United Democratic Party and fourth time MDC from Shella, Teiñwell Dkhar has been selected as the candidate for the post of Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.

Dkhar was selected for the CEM post, instead of Paul Lyngdoh or Titosstarwell Chyne on the basis of seniority at the UDP meeting held on Sunday night.

The UDP which formed the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) with the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), will lead the Executive Committee in KHADC with the support of the seven members of the National People’s Party (NPP), one member of the People’s Democratic Front and one Independent.

The RDA has nine members, seven from the UDP, and two from the HSPDP.

UDP president and Assembly Speaker, Dr Donkupar Roy told reporters that the RDA will get the CEM post and four Executive Members, and the CEM post will be on a rotation basis after one year.

Dkhar will remain as CEM for one year, and after that, the post will rotate to either Paul Lyngdoh or Titosstarwell Chyne.

Earlier the name of Lyngdoh and Chyne was doing the round for the CEM post.

However due to the tussle, the name of Dkhar emerged as consensus candidate for the CEM post.

But Roy denied that there was a tussle, saying the decision was taken on the basis of seniority and the CEM post should be rotated after one year.

The NPP has also formed the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) for working together with the RDA.

Roy said that the PDA will take the post of Chairman and Deputy Chairman besides the Executive Member posts.

“We have agreed to work together in the KHADC, being the same partners of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government,” Roy said.

The decision to form the PDA was taken at a meeting attended by nine MDCs which include NPP leader, Pynshngaiñlang N Syiem, PDF MDC from Umsning Macdalyne Sawkmie Mawlong and Independent MDC and MLA from Nongkrem, Lambor Malngiang.

Malngiang is the chairman of the PDA and Macdalyne is the secretary.

Syiem who was elected as Parliamentary Party (PP) leader of the NPP said that the joint meeting of the PDA and RDA will be held on Monday to decide collectively for the CEM post.

On the other hand, Malngiang said the PDA was formed to ensure stability and smooth functioning of the new executive committee.