Mawhati MDC to quit party, terms PDF as “Pynshngaiñ Dictator Party”

Shillong, May 16: Mawhati MDC James Sylliang has decided to quit the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), a political party being led by P.N. Syiem who is the chief executive member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

Sylliang was earlier suspended by Syiem for one year on charges that he indulged in anti-party activities.

Sylliang decided to quit the party at a meeting of the PDF Mawhati Zonal Committee held in Shillong on Wednesday.

“We have decided to dissolve the PDF Mawhati Zonal Committee with immediate effect because it is clear to us that they do not want me to be the candidate for the upcoming MDC elections to be held next year,” Sylliang told reporters after the meeting.

Sylliang is one among the two PDF MDCs which include Nongskhen MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri, who were suspended by the party after they rebelled against the KHADC chief.

Sylliang, who was also a founding member of the PDF, alleged that the decision to suspend him from the PDF was taken without convening any meeting, adding that that some leaders of the party were not happy with the decision of Syiem.

He said that the decision was not taken by party president, Ivanlumlang Marbaniang, who he termed him as “just a puppet.”

Sylliang also termed the PDF a “one man show” political party. “The PDF is fit to be named as ‘Pynshngaiñ Dictator Party’ as it is a party being controlled by only one man,” Sylliang slammed.

The Mawhati MDC said that he would withdraw support immediately from the PDA-led executive committee and play his role as an opposition MDC in the Council.

Whether he is ready to work with the opposition Congress, he however said that he is yet to decide on the matter but admitted that the attempt to topple the Syiem-led EC could not succeed because the opposition is weak and divided.

Earlier, Sylliang had launched a signature campaign to demand for a special session to seek clarification from the KHADC CEM on the alleged misappropriation of the Rs 28 crore out of Rs 32 crore sanctioned by the Centre.

Sylliang further reminded that the letter that was sent to the PDF for convening a meeting to discuss on the issue of leadership in the KHADC was also signed by two other MDCs of the party – Latiplang Kharkongor and James Ban Basaiawmoit.

“Now that (Latiplang and James Ban) are keeping quite, it only shows that they have no principles. In fact, Latiplang was the one who drafted the letter,” Sylliang recalled.