Shillong, Feb 13: National People’s Party (NPP) candidate from Nongkrem Hispreaching Son Shylla appealed to the people of the state to reject the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) and alleged that the party is seeking to dissolve existing district councils in the state.

“The people of the state should not support the HSPDP, a party which is asking for extension of Article 371 of the Constitution in Meghalaya as this will affect the existence of the three autonomous district councils in the state,” Shylla told reporters here on Tuesday.

The sitting Nongkrem MDC said that the moment Article 371 of the Indian Constitution is extended to Meghalaya, the three ADCs including KHADC will stand ‘dissolved’. However Mizoram are still having district councils, though the state is under Article 371.

On the other hand, Shylla said that the HSPDP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit has no right to make Article 371 as a political issue since he had already withdrawn the resolution moved in the floor of the Assembly on September 22, 2015.

“After the chief minister clarified on the resolution demanding inclusion of Meghalaya under Article 371 of the Constitution, he (Ardent) immediately withdrew it. If he wants to make it an issue he should have not withdrawn the resolution but take the same to the people but he failed in doing so,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Shylla also assured that if elected, he would seek immediate amendment for re-inserting the important clause in the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2004

While stating that people of Nongkrem are against MUDA, he said that the former Congress legislator Malngiang was the man responsible for passing the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2004.

He alleged that the Act 2004 has omitted Section 1 sub-section (2) of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973 which clearly stated – “It (Act) shall extend to the whole of Meghalaya excluding the Autonomous Districts.”

Further, the former KHADC chief said that the sitting MLA on the other hand has failed to oppose the amendment Act of 2004 and bring amendment (in the Assembly) to reinsert Section 1 sub-sectionn (2) of the 1973 Act.

“He (Ardent) has failed as an MLA to protect Nongkrem (from MUDA encroachment) and what he did was only a drama by shouting outside the Assembly. Though he is an MLA for past 10 years still he behaves like the president of the HSPDP. That is why MUDA means ‘Mukul Under Dealing with Ardent’,” Shylla alleged.

Shylla also accused the HSPDP sitting legislator of the constituency Ardent M Basaiawmoit of allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

“He (Ardent) has violated the model code of conduct by holding a public meeting at Mawmuthoh village on February 2,” he said while asserting that action should be taken against Basaiawmoit by the district authorities.