SHILLONG, JUNE 17: Twenty nine villages’ traditional heads under Laitkroh constituency on Monday opposed the proposed delimitation bill to be move by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) during its summer session to be held from Tuesday.
Close on the heel of the forthcoming MDC elections scheduled to be held next year, the KHADC in its delimitation bill which it has prepared proposed to do away with the Laitkroh constituency in East Khasi hills district and instead proposed to create a new constituency at Umsning under Ri Bhoi district.
Earlier, Laitkroh constituency MDC Carmel Sohtun had withdrawn his support from the Congress led Khais Hills United Democratic Alliance (KHUDA) as a mark of protest against the bill.
On Monday, a delegation of the traditional chiefs representing the different villages under the leadership of the Sordar of Laitkhroh Elaka, Paila Kharkongor met the Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngainlang N Syiem to air their disappointment to do away with Laitkroh.
“We demanded the KHADC to re-consider its decision on the deletion of the constituency in the upcoming MDC elections in the state,” Kharkongor said. He said the sudden decision is totally against the people as this will no doubt affect the area in so many ways in as far as development is concern.
According to Kharkongor if the delimitation bill is passed, Laitkroh will lose its name and fame and will have to move on as only a village falling under a new constituency to which people have voiced their opposition.
Earlier Sohtun, who is also a first time MDCof the area, had submitted his representation to the KHADC chief to hold back the council’s decision to delete the constituency.
Sohtun while expressing resentment over the move, told this reporter, “I have withdrawn my support from the KHUDA as a mark of opposition to the decision and I have submitted a personal request before the CEM to re-consider the EC’s decision.”
Meanwhile, the MDC and traditional heads from the twenty-nine villages have decided to hold a meeting shortly to discuss and decide on their future course of action if the bill is passed without taking their views and opinions into consideration.
“I will shortly convene a meeting of all the villages under the constituency to discuss the matter and would take decisions accordingly,” Sohtun informed.
There are about 17,000 voters registered under constituency.
The new delimitation would be effective in the constituencies including Ri Bhoi, West and South West Khasi hills and East Khasi hills and it is proposed to be implemented in the upcoming 2014 MDC elections.-By Our Reporter
LONG LIVE HSPDP!!!!!!!!
WITH REGARDS
LONG LIVE KHNAM!!!!!!
WITH REGARDS