“Meghalaya Congress may consider working with AITC for united opposition”

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 30: The Congress is expecting the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) to make the offer for working together as a ‘united opposition’ in the Assembly.

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Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ronnie V Lyngdoh told reporters it is clear that 10 MLAs are required for the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition but none of the three opposition parties fulfil this criterion since Congress has five MLAs, TMC also has five MLAs and VPP with four MLAs.

“Some have asked me why not work with the TMC but the offer or request has to come from their end,” Lyngdoh said while adding “When such a request has not been made (by the TMC), we also don’t feel it right to just make the offer”.

CLP leader said this is because Congress is not working with the TMC in parliament.

“We are also not working with them here. However, if the request or offer comes we will think about it,” Lyngdoh stated.

Congress leader refused to admit that the opposition parties are weak in view of the disunity among them in the Assembly and said, “You have just witnessed in the just concluded Assembly we had raised issues concerning the state even in the absence of a Leader of Opposition.”

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma is still consulting on the issue before taking a final decision.

MDA 2.0 backs Thomas Sangma as Speaker

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 7: NPP leader and North Tura legislator Thomas A Sangma was today nominated as the candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-2) for the post of Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Thomas A Sangma has also filed his nominations before the Assembly’s Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons at the Assembly Secretariat for the upcoming Speaker’s election to be held on March 9.

“Wishing Sh. Thomas A Sangma, Speaker nominee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly the very best,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma tweeted.

Speaking to reporters, Thomas lauded the decision of the MDA-2 government led by Conrad Sangma to nominate him for the coveted post. He also thanked the previous government for giving him the opportunity to serve the people.

The MDA-2 government has the support of 45 MLAs of which 26 are from NPP, 11 UDP, 2 BJP, 2 HSPDP, 2 PDF and 2 Independents.

The opposition bench on the other hand has a strength of 14 members which include 5 Congress, 5 All India Trinamool Congress and 4 Voice of the People Party.