Shillong, Nov 2: KHADC chief executive member, Pynshngaiñlang N. Syiem has accused the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA-II) government of shielding bureaucrat-turned-politician H.M. Shangpliang, who is set to contest from Mawsynram constituency in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Syiem who represents both as MLA and MDC of Mawsynram constituency, alleged that the state government of shielding Shangpliang, who has allegedly misused his position as IAS officer.

“He (Shangpliang) has proved that he was already a politician even before he resigned as IAS officer (by him now joining the Congress). The MUA-II instead of understanding that he has misused his position, it is protecting him,” Syiem told reporters here on Thursday.

Shangpliang’s application seeking voluntary retirement was accepted by the state government last month, and he formally joined the Congress recently.

At present, Syiem is the suspended Congress member.

Earlier there was a demand from several quarters that action should be taken against Shangpliang, after a video clip which showed Shangpliang attending a meeting of a political party, went viral.

Referring to the video clip and complaints lodged by the headman of Nongtrai village, Wahadar of Shella village and an NGO against the former bureaucrat to the Centre and state government, Syiem said, “Now by taking VRS, he has proved that he had misused his official position that time.”

Asserting that conducting an inquiry into the matter is not necessary anymore, Syiem however said, “He (Shangpliang) should be punished as per service rules of both the Centre and state governments.”

Shangpliang was an MCS officer before being nominated as IAS officer.

Syiem also said that he was waiting for the intervention of the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT), Government of India into the matter.