United Democratic Party (UDP) MDC and former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Titosstarwell Chyne today said that the Congress MDCs in the council have become “laughing stocks”.
Chyne made these comments after the two senior Congress MDCs, Pynshngain N Syiem who is also the Deputy CEM and Ronnie V Lyngdoh, are contemplating to withdraw from the coalition led by the National People’s Party (NPP) ahead of the autonomous district council polls early next year.
“First they joined the Executive Committee and now they are thinking of quitting the coalition. They think people are fools (that they will believe them),” he added.
The former CEM in the KHADC said that this tactic of the Congress is to mislead the people just ahead of the district council polls. Chyne also said that the people will answer the Congress by voting against it in the upcoming polls.
Meanwhile, on the comments made by Cabinet Minister and NPP legislator, Ampareen Lyngdoh that the NPP should not be underestimated as any party that forms the executive committee (EC) in the autonomous district council cannot survive without the support of the ruling party, Chyne said that there has been occasions where the EC was formed by parties who are not in the government.
“The autonomous district councils are independent institutions. The government cannot disturb the functioning of any EC,” he said.
The former CEM also said that it is not right to say that an EC in the autonomous district councils need the blessings of the state government. “The district councils are different institutions while the state government is different,” Chyne added.
Chyne had been CEM until 2023 when he was ousted by the NPP supported by the Congress.