Shillong, July 9: Seventeen MDCs of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) have withdrawn their support from the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) being led by the Chief Executive Member, P.N. Syiem.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the newly formed Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA) held in the city here on Monday.

The KHDA comprises five MDCs from the United Democratic Party (UDP), 4 each from the National People’s Party (NPP) and People’s Democratic Front (PDF), 3 Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) and 1 Independent.

The decision of the 17 MDCs came one day ahead of the special session scheduled to be held on Tuesday to discuss the alleged financial irregularities and abuse of power by the Syiem, who is also chairman of the PDF.

Earlier last week, deputy chief executive member Teilinia Thangkhiew from the HSPDP and other executive members have also tendered their resignation from their respective posts.

MDCs who were holding posts of chairmen in the Council have also tendered their resignation.

Moreover, there is also division within the PDF when majority of the MDCs have decided to remove Syiem as the parliamentary party leader in the Council.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UDP MDC from Laitumkhrah, Neil Antonio War said, “We (17 MDCs) have submitted a letter withdrawing our support to the PDA-led Executive Committee being led by Syiem and formed the KHDA.”

On the other hand, NPP MDC from Nongkrem Hispreaching Son Shylla asked the incumbent Council’s chief to face the session to be held on Tuesday and he should not resign.

“We request him (Syiem) not to resign but to face the session in the House. We would like to first discuss issues in the House and after that, it is up to the CEM to decide to step down from the post,” he said.

Asked, Shylla said the members of the KHDA would be raising issues related to financial irregularities, misrule and failure of the present CEM to convene an emergency session to discuss issues pertaining to the Sweepers’ colony at Them ïew Mawlong.

“We are totally against the highhandedness and misrule of Syiem, who seems to be trying to take the Council as his own private property. This also includes the frequent dropping of executive members and suspension of members,” he said.

Shylla, who is also a former KHADC CEM, said that if Syiem is a responsible leader, it should have been his duty to convene an emergent session of the Council so that members can discuss about the heated issue related to Them ïew Mawlong.

Echoing similar views, War, who was recently dropped from the EM post alleged that the present CEM has failed to respect the executive members by taking decision without consulting them.

Meanwhile, HSPDP MDC Manstudy Nongrem, also a former KHADC chief, said that if Syiem refused to step down, they will immediately move a no-confidence motion for his removal from the top post.