Shillong, July 24: Senior MDC of the United Democratic Party (UDP) from Shella constituency, Teiñwell Dkhar was elected as the new Chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in a contest conducted through secret ballot where he defeated opposition candidate, Hadrian Lyngdoh.

After division of votes cast in favour of Dkhar and Lyngdoh were counted, Pro-tem Chairperson Teilinia S Thangkhiew announced the election of Dkhar to the post after securing 17 votes, whereas Lyngdoh got just 10 votes.

Dkhar’s candidature was supported by members of the ruling coalition, Khasi Hills Democratic Alliance (KHDA) under the leadership of the KHADC CEM, H.S. Shylla, while Lyngdoh was fielded by the opposition coalition, People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA).

Despite having the strength of 12 members, the PDA however lost two votes since People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman and former CEM, Pynshngaiñlang N. Syiem did attend the session, while another PDF member, Grace Mary Kharpuri did not cast her vote and walked out of the House in protest against the pro-tem Chairperson, Teilinia S. Thangkhiew for presiding over the proceedings.

Kharpuri said that it was “sub judice” on the part of the pro-tem chairperson to conduct the election to the post of Chairman since she has already become a party to the petition filed in the Meghalaya High Court against the holding of election to the CEM post by the Protem Chairperson on July 13.

“The matter is sub-judice and you (Thangkhiew) cannot preside over the proceedings as you have lost the moral authority to do so,” Kharpuri alleged.

However Thangkhiew clarified that she was only following the notification issued by the Governor who had authorized her as Protem Chairperson to preside over the proceedings of the House.

When Thangkhiew directed the secretary (legislative) to call each member to cast their vote to elect the new Chairman of the Council, Kharpuri said that it was better for her to refrain from voting, after which, she walked out of the House alone, while other opposition members took part in the election.

Later Thangkhiew announced the election of Dkhar to the high post and immediately vacated the seat for him.

Dkhar is the fourth chairman of the present term of the Council in four years since 2014. Dkhar, was first elected in 2004 on United Democratic Party ticket from Shella constituency and he is one of the members who did not change the political party and continued to win in 2009 and 2014 district council elections from the same party.

During the felicitation of the newly elected Chairman, opposition members while congratulating Dkhar for getting elected to the high post, also congratulated the KHADC CEM, Hispreaching Son Shylla and Deputy Chairman Equator Nongrang for having elected to the respective posts.

In his address, the newly elected Chairman assured that he would try his best to perform his duty and follow the rule without partiality in the interest of the members and the Council as a whole.

“I can assure that I will perform my duty without fear,” he said.

The CEM also urged the newly elected chairman to be neutral while conducting the proceedings of the House.

The KHADC chief also informed the House that the new executive committee will take steps to further strengthen the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) 1951.

Asserting the need to have anti-defection law in the district council to prevent defection of members from one political party to another, Shylla however said at present, there is no provision which allows the district council to introduce such law, unless the Sixth Schedule is amended by Parliament.

“However, we are making a move to bring anti-defection law in the district council which will be in line with the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India,” Shylla said.

Congress MDC from Mawlai Process T Sawkmie said that Shella constituency has been blessed since its MLA is the Speaker of the State Assembly while its MDC has been elected as the new Chairman of the KHADC.

Sawkmie also congratulated Shylla for taking over as CEM and urged the new Executive Committee to seriously take up issues related to building byelaws and ensure that no NOC should be granted for the construction of railway project.

Sawkmie also informed the House that though the Congress is in the opposition, but it is not part of the PDF-led People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), adding that Congress PP leader, Lamphrang Blah, will officially submit a letter to the chairman in this regard.

During the election of Chairman, two ministers of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, who are also members of the KHADC also cast their vote.

While HSPDP member, Samlin Malngiang, also PHE minister supported the ruling alliance in the KHADC and voted for Dkhar, PDF member Banteidor Lyngdoh, also Sports and Youth Affairs minister supported the opposition PDA and voted for its candidate, Hadrian Lyngdoh.

Infact, the PDF is supporting the NPP-led MDA government in state.