Shylla losses confidence motion in Meghalaya's KHADC

Shillong, Feb 5 (UNI) Congress leader H S Shylla was today formally ousted as the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills District Council (KHADC) after he lost a no-confidence motion by an overwhelming majority in the Council.

The special session of the Council was convened to facilitate a no-confidence motion against Mr Shylla to remove him from the CEM's post on various charges.

Last week, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee removed Mr Shylla from the top post after receiving a letter, signed by 13 MDCs asking for his removal as the CEM.

Today, as soon as the session was called to order, Mr Shylla challenged the legality of the session, pointing out that it did not have the requisite Governor's approval and was therefore unconstitutional.

This set all 28 members, including the Chairman, Martamlin Pyrbot on the backfoot.

A heated debate ensued with Mr Shylla on one side and all Council members on the other. For the next half and hour, Mr Shylla fought valiantly against everyone single-handedly while occasionally turning to legal books.

However, the Council Chairman adjourned the session for two hours after seniormost KHADC member Bindo M Lanong of the United Democratic Party suggested the same.

After the session was reconvened, Mr Shylla was asked to reply on the various charges that moved by RV Lyngdoh (Congress). The beleaguered CEM had just replied to one of the charges relating to the implementation of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997, which Mr Shylla defended himself off the charges.

But, the Chairman did not allow Mr Shylla to reply to other charges but admitted the motion, which the Council unanimously passed 28 to 1.

Incidentally, the Council has a strength of 30 members, but one member Sanbor Shullai (Congress) had resigned to contest the March three Assembly elections on the Nationalist Congress Party ticket.

Meanwhile, Mr Shylla told reporters that he will move court against the unconstitutional holding of today's special session without the approval of Governor.

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