Dimapur, July 5 (EMN): All is not well within the National People’s Party (NPP) led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) as the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) has threatened to withdraw support following the former decision to withdraw support to the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
However, deputy chief minister and NPP leader, Prestone Tynsong, claimed that there is no threat at all to the government, a UNI report said.
"There is no threat at all to the MDA government. All MDA coalition partners are intact," Tynsong was quoted as saying.
The move of the PDF, a key partner in the MDA government, to pull out from the government followed after the NPP and United Democratic Party (UDP) members in the autonomous council planned to oust the incumbent KHADC chief executive member, Pynshngian N Syiem of the PDF.
"We will have to consider withdrawing support to MDA coalition government if the NPP members betray the agreement of supporting the PDF in running the KHADC," Syiem said.
Four PDF legislators Banteidor Lyngdoh Mawphlang, Hamletson Dohling, Gavin Miguel Mylliem and Jason Sawkmie Mawlong are part of the MDA government and two among them, Lyngdoh and Dohling, are cabinet ministers.
Quoting sources, the report stated that majority of the members have joined the campaign to remove Syiem from the CEM post and elect a new leader in his place from among the members.
"Majority of the members have lost faith in the style of functioning of the present CEM, who is playing too much political games," one of the MDCs said on anonymity.
Interestingly, it was alleged that the CEM, who came to know about the move, had offered some MDCs to undertake a trip to Kolkata.
It reported that earlier too, some MDCs have also signed a letter in support of the move to topple Syiem. The letter was also proposed to be sent to the Governor requesting him to convene an emergent session of the council. Sources claimed that 17 MDCs at present were in favour of the move to change the leader.
The MDA comprised of 36 legislators including 19 from NPP, six from United Democratic Party (UDP), four from People's Democratic Front (PDF), two each from Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party, lone Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and two Independents of the effective strength of 59 in 60-member House.
