Outgoing CEM HS SHylla with incoming CEM Teiñwell Dkhar

Shillong, March 4: Outgoing CEM of the KHADC, Hispreaching Son Shylla lamented over the use of money power in the just concluded elections to the two autonomous district councils in Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills.

“Winning the elections has no connection with performances either in Assembly or District Councils. Out of 11 executive members, who were part and parcel of the Executive Committee that had passed many important Bills, only two of them could retain their respective seats,” Shylla told reporters here on Monday.

“Even though we have passed so many legislations there is no guarantee that you will win. That is why, the recent results and the performance of members in the district council have no connection at all,” Shylla said.

He said it seems that the electorate do not vote on the basis of performance but their vote depends on who can “distribute fruits” during elections, adding that it was good for him for not contesting this time.

“This clearly indicated that money power played a big role and it is difficult to win elections whether in the Assembly or district councils. It is a sad trend,” Shylla stated.

Coming to the State Legislative Assembly, Shylla said the decision to introduce the MLA scheme has affected the state especially in getting quality legislators who can debate and make policies and laws for the good of the state.

“I remembered that late Purno A. Sangma had strongly opposed this (MLA scheme) when the then Chief Minister late B.B. Lyngdoh introduced the scheme for the first time in the state because only from this scheme, it can mould the opinion of the people. The role of elected representatives in the Assembly has also come down with the implementation of the MLA scheme. There is a need to rethink on this aspect, to ensure that quality of debate by MLAs is visible in the Assembly,” he said.

He said before, the MLAs have to depend on the Assurance Committee of the Assembly which will ensure that the assurances given by ministers in the House should be translated into reality.

“But now we hardly hear about this assurance committee of the State Assembly,” he said.

Stating that money power has destroyed the state, Shylla said, “during elections, it is the time for people to plough and plant fruit tree, but now it is opposite as the electorates are harvesting and plucking fruits during elections. This trend has really scared many people who can become good legislators and work for the interest of the state.”

According to Shylla, this trend could be reversed only if the MLA scheme is done away with.