Shillong, Sept. 29: The chief executive member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, P.N. Syiem, today met Meghalaya governor V. Shanmuganathan, impressing upon him not to give his nod to an amendment bill that bars Assembly members from holding two elected posts.

Syiem, who called on the governor at Raj Bhavan here, made it clear that the matter related to dual posts is pending in the judiciary for its decision, and he had filed his nomination papers as a candidate during elections to district councils last year based on Entry IX of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Act, 1972.

Entry IX of the 1972 act says the chairman, chief executive member and others, executive members or ordinary members of a district council in an autonomous district or any member nominated to such district council by the governor are not attracted from disqualification.

The amendment bill, 2015, was passed in Assembly recently by removing Entry IX and would come into force from October 1.

"I have told the governor that the amendment bill barring our membership halfway cannot be accepted since I have filed my nomination as a candidate for elections to district councils based on Entry IX of the 1972 act which allowed Assembly members to become members of district councils (MDCs)," Syiem told The Telegraph.

He also said that the amendment bill not only targets him but also other members of the district councils and lakhs of people.

"The matter pending in the judiciary is considered sub judice, but the amendment bill was tabled in the Assembly and passed within just a few days. That is why I am very firm that the decision of the government was very wrong and misleading ," he alleged.

Stating that the government cannot mislead the MDCs and the people on this, Syiem said: "If I resign from one of the two posts, some may accuse me of betraying the people. But in this case, the government is forcing the electorate of the eight members of district councils go back to elections and make the district councils bear the expenses".

According to Syiem, as the matter (dual posts) is in the court, the judiciary will decide. "We are ready to face the consequences," he said.

"The intention of the amendment bill was to mislead the people. That is why I am firm that I am not alone. I am with the people," Syiem asserted.

He said he would make his stand clear on future course of action within a few days.