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Diphu, July 8 (EMN): The four nominated Members of Autonomous Council (MAC) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KACC) were administered the oath of office here on Friday.
The election to the 26 seats of the KAAC was held on June 8, where all the seats were won by BJP. The KAAC, governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, can induct four as nominated members.
The four nominated members namely Phenpiga Rengma, former chairman of Sports and Youth Development Board, KAAC; Mukut Mahanta, former MAC from Deopani; Dr. Mongve Rongpi and Krishna Bahadur Bhatarai Chetry were administered the oath of office by the deputy commissioner, Dibakar Nath, on behalf of the Governor of Assam, held at the auditorium of new KAAC Secretariat building on Friday.
Phenpiga represented the Rengma Naga community, Mahanta from the Assamese community and Chetry from the Gorkha community.
The oath taking ceremony was witnessed by chairman of KAAC, Raju Tisso; chief executive member of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang; and the principal secretary, Mukul Kumar Saikia.
Tuliram has congratulated the four nominated members on his facebook post.
After the oath taking ceremony, Phenpiga Rengma said it was after 20 years the Rengma community in Karbi Anglong has got the nominated member.
“I thanked our CEM because after 20 years gap, the Rengma community has got nominated member. I also want to thank the Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who along with the Governor, has approved the nominated MAC list. Also I thank our MP Horen Sing Bey, the four MLAs and all MACs who supported us,” Rengma said.
He also said, “From 1997 to 2002, Reshelo Rengma was MAC from Lumbajong and executive member in-charge of Agriculture. As I represent my Naga Rengma community, I will try my best to work for the development of my community in particular and for the people of Karbi Anglong as a whole.”
KSA flays induction of non-tribal communities
The Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) of Jameson Timung faction has expressed dissatisfaction over the induction of Mukut Mahanta and Krishna Bahadur Bhatarai Chetry as nominated member of autonomous council (MAC) from the non-scheduled tribe communities.
Briefing media persons at the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) office on Friday, the KSA publicity secretary, Moniram Teron, said the non-scheduled tribe communities cannot be represented in the KAAC.
“We welcome Dr. Mongve Rongpi and Phenpiga Rengma as nominated MACs, but we oppose the induction of Mukut Mahanta, a former MAC from Deopani, and Krishna Bahadur Bhatarai Chetry as the two are not scheduled tribes. The KSA is dissatisfied over their induction as nominated MACs,” Teron said.
“There are other scheduled tribes like Khasi Pnar, Garo, Kuki and others who have no representation in the KAAC. These communities living in Karbi Anglong are lacking in social, political and economic sides. If the KAAC is really working for the development of tribal communities, then these communities should have representation in the KAAC,’ Teron added.
“For the Assamese community, there is already a representative from Bokajan Madhuriya Dhekial Phukan. There is no need for another representation for a particular community. Also Chetry is from Gorkha community. But the community still does not have recognition in the state, then how can the KAAC nominate Chetry?” Teron questioned.
Stating that it can never accept non-scheduled tribe persons to become nominated in KAAC, KSA urged upon the chief executive member of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang, and other elected MAC to cancel Mahanta and Chetry as nominated members.