MDA to finalise Speaker’s candidate on Sept 4

SHILLONG, AUG 29: The 4-member core committee headed by the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong has decided to propose the consensus candidate for the Assembly Speaker’s post before the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) on September 4.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the core committee held here on Thursday. Its members include United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Metbah Lyngdoh, People’s Democratic Front (PDF) leader Banteidor Lyngdoh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader AL Hek.

The election of the Speaker will be held during the upcoming autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, which will commence from September 6 – 13. It was necessitated after the death of the former Assembly Speaker Dr Donkupar Roy on July 28.

After the meeting, Tynsong told reporters that the core committee will again hold its sitting on Setpember 4, before submitting its proposal for consensus candidate before the MDA for its consideration.

“The name of the candidate for the post of the Speaker will also be finalized by the MDA which will be meeting on the evening of September 4,” he said.

The deputy chief minister while refusing to disclose the name of the probable candidate for the top post said that consultations are also being held within the different political parties which are supporting the alliance.

The present strength of the six-political party coalition alliance has gone up to 40 in the 60-member House following the recent decision of the lone KHNAM legislator Adelbert Nongrum to support the MDA through the United Progressive Front (UPF).

Earlier, the UDP, which is the main ally of the MDA, had maintained that the Speaker’s post should remain with the party on ground that it was occupied by its late president Dr Donkupar.

However, this idea has not gone down well with some of the coalition partners, wherein the PDF which is leading the UPF, a newly floated sub-alliance – has also decided to project its own candidate for the Speaker’s post.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has also announced its decision to contest the election to the post of the Speaker.

By Our Reporter