Congress suspends MLA PN Syiem in Meghalaya

Shillong: Congress has placed under suspension a legislator who rebelled against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, following which five other members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council tendered their resignations from the party.

The Chief Executive Member and legislator PN Syiem was suspended by the state party leadership for alleged "anti-party activities" last night.

His suspension came as the party prepares to contest for seven vacant posts of the two tribal autonomous district councils.

Following the suspension order, five executive members in the Congress-led People's Democratic Front coalition at the Council tendered their resignation from the party membership and supported Syiem as their leader.

Syiem openly rebelled against the chief minister and was the only legislator who did not resign from the membership of the council even as seven other legislators were forced to resign under the new legislation passed by the state Assembly last year preventing legislators from holding two elected posts.
Congress has appointed Mansturdy Nongrem as the new parliamentary party leader in the council.

Syiem, who claimed to have the support of majority of the members at the council, said the appointment of Nongrem was not as per norm since the actual leader did not convene the parliamentary party instead a party functionary did it.