Shillong,April 18: The central executive committee of the UDP today decided to withdraw support from the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) coalition in the Khasi Hill Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The PDF coalition is leading an executive committee in the KHADC under the leadership of suspended Congress legislator, P.N. Syiem as the chief executive member.
The UDP has six members in the 29-member council.
But there are indications that some MDCs of the UDP would continue supporting to the PDF and they are likely to defy the party’s decision.
With the UDP’s pulling out support, the strength of the PDF coalition has reduced from 23 to 17 members. This means that there is no threat to the survival of the PDF-led executive committee.
The UDP cited illegal financial transaction worth nearly Rs 2 crore in the KHADC as the main reason for withdrawing support from the PDF coalition.
A report of the KHADC’s house committee has also blamed Syiem and executive member (finance), Antonio War for the illegal financial transaction where an FIR has been lodged against former secretary of the KHADC’s executive committee, Welljune Syiemlieh.
“The party cannot subscribe to elements of corruption in the KHADC which led to taking this decision to come out of the PDF coalition. The party will convey this decision to the PDF immediately, ” Roy said.
The UDP’s central executive committee also decided to asked all its six MDCs to sit in the Opposition.