Hanse wins trust vote in KAAC

DIPHU, March 5: Fifteen members of the 29-member Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) today did not participate in the voting conducted through secret ballots on the motion of confidence moved by the chief executive member, Mojari Hanse while 13 other members were declared to have casted their votes for the motion. The chairman of the council, Daniel Teron later adjourned the House amid din after announcing that the CEM Mojari Hanse had won the motion of confidence by a margin of 13-0 much to the chargin of the 15 protesting members led by the former CEM, Jotson Bey. The group of 15 protesting members included 11 from the ASDC faction in the council led by Jotson Bey, two Congress members and two Independent members. It seems, the fate of the executive council led by Mojari Hanse is now dependent on the further action of the State government which will act on the report submitted by the government observer present during the KAAC session today. The State government was represented as its observer by S C Das, IAS, Commissioner, Hill area and Barak Valley division. Earlier, following the debate on the motion of confidence, the chairman Daniel Teron called upon all members of the council to participate in the voting to be conducted through secret ballots on the motion of confidence. However, 15 members of the Council led by Jotson Bey raised their protest against voting through secret ballots and demanded division by standing. The chairman ignored their protest and continued with the process of voting through secret ballots prompting the 15 members to rise from their seats and sit on the floor of the well before the Chair. The members alleged that the Chair was acting in violation of democratic norms and provision of Rule 61 of conduct of business in the KAAC. They pointed out that the State Governor in his order No. 6/2002/108 and dated February 26, 2001 while asking Mojari Hanse to seek vote of confidence desired that transparency should be maintained during voting on the motion. It may be mentioned that the para 61(2) of the Rule 61 says. "Votes may be taken by show of hands or voices or division and shall be taken by division if any members so desire. The Chairman shall determine the method of taking votes by division provide that if any member so desires the names of members voting on either side shall be recorded." As the 15 members of the Council led by Jotson Bey did not participate in the voting despite repeated requests the chairman Daniel Terson then announced that Mojari Hanse had won the of confidence by a margin of 13-0. The agitated members of the Council then submitted a note protest to the Chair and continued to disrupt further proceedings of the House. The Chairman then adjourned the House for the day amid din. The 13 members who were declared to have cast their votes included four State government-nominated members of the Council. The entire drama unfolded in front of the State government observer, S C Das, Commissioner of Hill Areas and Barak Valley Division. Meanwhile, the 15 members of the Council who did not participate in the voting later submitted a memorandum to the State government observer pointing out that under the present circumstances prevailing in the KAAC the impasse can be resolved by an additional notification of the Governor in his exercise of powers under Rule 4 of the Assam Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951, by appointing an impartial presiding authority. He was requested to communicate the matter to the Governor without delay. It may be mentioned that the Governor had ordered the CEM, Hanse to seek vote of confidence in the KAAC after considering the memorandum dated February 7, 2001, submitted by Jotson Bey and 14 other MACs of the Council complaining of irregularities in the procedure followed by the Deputy Speaker of the KAAC on February 6, 2001, during counting of votes on the resolution for removal of the Chairman.