Shillong, Oct 23: Four members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) who belonged to the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) resigned from the party and decided to remain as Independents for now.

The four MDCs include, Grace Mary Kharpuri MDC from Nongshken, Latiplang Kharkongor (Nongthymmai), James Sylliang (Mawhati) and Blandingstar Warjri (Mawthadraishan).

Except Kharpuri, Kharkongor, Sylliang and Warjri are Executive Members of the Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA)-led Executive Committee in the KHDC under the leadership of Chief Executive Member, H.S Shylla.

The resignation of the four MDCs came as a blow to the PDF, a new party being led by former MLA and current MDC from Mawsynram, P.N. Syiem.

Members of District Councils in Meghalaya switched from one party to another in the absence of an anti-defection law.

Syiem, who was the CEM of the KHADC, is now the lone Opposition member in the KHADC.

Earlier the PDF had extended the suspension period to Kharkongor, Sylliang, and Warjri from September 7 to October 7. They were suspended from the PDF for their alleged anti-party activities for supporting the present CEM (H.S. Shylla) who is the member of the National People’s Party (NPP).

Kharpuri was also suspended earlier for raising issues against PDF leader PN Syiem.

The MDCs cited “leadership failure” as one of the main reasons for quitting the party and jointly submitted the resignation letter to the PDF president and secretary.

“We have resigned from the PDF and will continue to serve as Independent members,” Kharkongor told reporters on Tuesday.

The PDF which was formed last year ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections, has no elected members in the KHADC, but who all defected from other political parties.

Kharkongor also slammed the PDF under the leadership of P.N Syiem for being partial and lacking leadership which according to him has led to the present crisis in the party.

“While action was taken against us for supporting Shylla and his EC, but the party failed to suspend the other five members who recently took a similar decision and supported Shylla. Therefore, it is better for us to resign from such a party,” Kharkongor said.

Earlier this month, five MDCs of the PDF which include party’s PP leader James Ban Basaiawmoit, Banteidor Lyngdoh, who is also a cabinet minister, Hadrian Lyngdoh, Morningstar Mawsor and Albinus Lyngdoh had submitted their letter of support to the incumbent KHADC chief, HS Shylla.

“We were never given any chance to speak but we were directly suspended,” Kharkongor said.

Kharpuri, who also demanded action against the five MDCs of the PDF, said that the sub-committee of the PDF consisting of all the four MLAs of the party was constituted on September 28 to resolve the misunderstanding and streamline the functioning of the party.

“However, it is almost a month now, they are yet to come up with any amicable solution which only shows they are not taking things seriously,” she said.

The Nongshken MDC also alleged the PDF legislator from Sohra, Gavin M Mylliem of attempting to put up own candidate against the PDF candidate from Langkyrdem constituency.

“He (Gavin) had openly stated this in the CEC meeting. Also when the people had approach him, he told them the same that he will not be able to support the PDF from Langkyrdem,” she said.

The MDCs also accused Syiem, who is the chairman of the PDF of thinking only for his “personal benefits”.

“After the 2018 Assembly polls and after Ranikor bye-election, we realised that he (Syiem) only thinks for his own personal benefits,” Kharkongor said.

The MDCs said that infighting in the PDF began when Syiem decided on his own to withdraw support from the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

“Knowing fully well that the PDF ministers and MDA government are working hard to solve issues relating to the Them ïew Mawlong and MUDA, he (Syiem) tried to take such decision on behalf of the party,” he said.

The MDCs also informed that their supporters had warned them not to contest from the PDF in the upcoming 2019 elections.

According to Sylliang, it would be difficult for the PDF to do well in the upcoming elections as the party is totally a divided house and lack leadership quality.