In what may further delay election to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), members of the council today decided to refer the report of the delimitation committee to the House select committee.
The decision was taken during the first day of the monsoon session of KHADC here today.
It may be mentioned that the delimitation committee has submitted its report to the executive committee of KHADC on July 8 with recommendations to readjust the number of voters in a number of constituencies.
During today’s session, the KHADC executive committee through Deputy Chief Executive Member Pynshngain N. Syiem tabled the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Amendment Rules 2024 in line with the recommendations of the delimitation committee.
However, leader of opposition and Sohra MDC, Titos Chyne asked the executive committee not to rush into passing the amendment rules. He also suggested sending the delimitation report and the amendment rules to the House select committee for further examination.
“It does not mean that we are against the delimitation report but since the copy of the report was received by members of the House today, it has to be thoroughly examined. So it is better to refer it to the select committee,” Chyne said.
Chyne was supported by UDP MDCs – Balajied Rani, Jambor War and Lambor Malngiang – Congress MDC Gabriel Wahlang and independent MDC Latiplang Kharkongor.
Following the suggestions by the MDCs on the matter, Deputy CEM Pynshngain Syiem agreed to refer the delimitation committee report and the amendment rules to the House select committee.
Syiem was appointed as chairman of the select committee while the members include Titos Chyne, Jambor War, Bindo Lanong, Lambor Malngiang and Balajied Rani. KHADC secretary D G Syiemiong was appointed as the member secretary of the committee.
Although Syiem said that the select committee would try to speed up its work, no timeline has been set for completion of its job to examine the delimitation report.
The decision to refer the delimitation report and amendment rules to the select committee is bound to delay the process for holding election to the KHADC.
It may be mentioned that the KHADC had constituted the delimitation committee through a notification issued on October 20, 2023.
Due to the delimitation exercise, the tenure of the present house in KHADC which was supposed to end in March 2024, was extended for a period of six months.
