KHADC resolves to increase number of seats to 37

Shillong Nov 19: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has passed a resolution urging the government to increase the number of seats to 37 and to delete the word “unrepresented tribes” from the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule.

The resolution was tabled by deputy chief executive member Pynïaid Sing Syiem on the first day of the four-day winter session of the Council on Tuesday.

Syiem told the House that after the recent visit to New Delhi to discuss about the proposal to increase the number of seats in the KHADC to 40 (of which 35 are elected and 5 nominated), the executive committee felt that the number of seats should be reduced to 37.

According to him, the Council wanted the number of elected seats should be increased to 35, and one of the two nominated members will be reserved for women.

Each of the three autonomous district councils in the Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo Hills, has 30 members, 29 elected by the people, and one nominated member each.

The deputy chief executive member informed that it is for the executive committee to decide on the delimitation of constituencies.

On the other hand, Syiem informed that an all party meeting convened by the Council has also unanimously resolved to oppose the proposal to provide nomination to unrepresented tribes in the district councils.

However, opposition Congress leader Lamphrang Blah while endorsing the stand of the Council on the issue of unrepresented tribes, questioned the sudden change in the decision of the executive committee to propose that the number of seats be increased to 37.

“We are shocked and we wanted to know why the EC changed its decision to increase the number of seats from 31 to 37,” he said.

Raising similar concerns, Congress MDC Charles Marngar also reminded that the all party meeting has unanimously resolved to propose to the government that the number of seats in the KHADC should be increased to 31 only.

Replying to this, deputy chief executive member said the additional seats would ensure equal representation with equal segment of population, while citing Mawlai constituency which has a total of 47,000 voters.

He also informed that the executive committee would also convene an all party meeting to discuss and decide on the process of delimiting the constituencies.

“We have also decided to submit this resolution before the parliamentary standing committee of the Rajya Sabha which is expected to visit the state very soon,” he said.

Later chairman of the Council, P N Syiem announced that the House has unanimously passed the resolution on the two issues –number of seats and unrepresented tribes.