Shillong, July 20: First time member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) from Mairang-Nongkhlaw constituency, Equator Nongrang was elected as Deputy Chairman of the Council uncontested on Friday.

Nongrang who is the member of the United Democratic Party (UDP), was fielded as the candidate for the election to the Deputy Chairman post by the ruling Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA).

Pro-tem chairperson, Teilinia Thangkhiew announced that Nongrang has been elected unopposed as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) and PDF member from Mawshynrut, Morningstar Mawsor has withdrawn his candidature.

All 12 members of the opposition PDA which comprises of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and Congress skipped the election while few members were present in the Council’s premises but did not come to the House.

The KHDA has 17 members but its two members did not attend the election, which include Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) member, Samlin Malngiang, who is also a cabinet minister, and KHNAM MDC, Adelbert Nongrum.

KHADC chief executive member (CEM), Hispreaching Son Shylla termed the decision of PDA members to abstain from the House an ‘unhealthy practice’ in democracy.

It was the second time that the opposition members abstained from the House. The first was, they skipped the election to the post of CEM) on July 13.

Shylla alleged that the PDA cannot accept defeat, and according to him, such action on the part of the opposition members may attract provisions of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) 1951, their respective seats can be even declared as vacant.

“Sub Rule 5 of Rule 16 clearly states that if for a period of thirty days a member of a District Council is without permission of the Council absent from all meetings thereof, the Council may declare his seat vacant,” he added.

The newly elected Deputy Chairman was also felicitated members in the House.

Shylla informed that HSPDP member, Samlin Malngiang came to the Council but he decided to go to Sohïong after learning that PDA candidate had withdrawn his nomination for the post.

Slamming the attitude of the PDA, HSPDP member and former KHADC chief, Manstudy Nongrem said, “I feel from now onwards, PDA members should not be referred to as opposition members, but as abstention members.”

Nongrem said that he expected that the PDA members may also abstain the upcoming summer session of the Council which will begin from July 25.

“It is for the people to judge and answer on such irresponsible elected representatives,” Nongrem said, and congratulated Nongrang on his election as Deputy Chairman and urged him to be neutral while conducting the business of the House.

Addressing the House, the newly elected Deputy Chairman assured that he would give his best while performing his duty and expressed his thanks to all members of the House including the opposition members, who withdrew from contesting for the post for lack of numbers,”.

Nongrang was first elected KHADC member from Mairang-Nongkhlaw in the bye-elections held in 2016 after six MLAs resigned as MDCs after the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly) (Amendment) Act 2015 was passed with an intention to end holding of dual posts both as MLA and MDC.