Shillong, Oct 22: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief executive member (CEM), H.S. Shylla announced that he would not contest the upcoming elections to council in 2019 even as he termed speculation that he would contest the Lok Sabha polls from Shillong constituency as “just the thinking of others.”

It was the second time that Shylla had announced his decision to stay away from politics, and the first was prior to the 1998 Assembly elections.

When Shylla was the MLA of Nongkrem and held the post of Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly from July 23, 1997 to February 1998, he had also announced his decision to retire from active politics, as he would involve in preaching the Gospel.

Later he however he returned to politics again and successfully contested the elections to the KHADC from Laitkroh constituency in 2004.

Shylla was again elected as member of the KHADC from Nongkrem constituency in the bye election held in December 2016, and returned as the CEM on July 13, this year.

“I have decided to retire from active politics. I am happy that I have been able to bring laws which include the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage (Amendment) Bill, to be passed in the upcoming special session of the Council on October 25 and 26. The special session will be a great day for me as we will be passing the important Bill. I am satisfied with my contributions and I feel it is time for me to retire,” Shylla told reporters.

Asked if he planned to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Shillong constituency, Shylla denied and termed as “just the thinking of others.”

“People should not misunderstand that whatever I am doing now, it is because I want to project myself as candidate (for the MP elections),” he said.

Stating that he has done his part and will retire from politics, Shylla “It is up to the MLAs and ministers (to ensure that bills passed by the Council are approved).”

He also said that the people of Nongkrem constituency have rejected him when he contested the Assembly polls this year.

Informing that that he will continue preaching the Gospel, Shylla said, “Now I am still preaching and I will continue to do so.”