SHILLONG, DEC 14: Meghalaya legislators today exchanged best wishes for the next year’s state elections at the ultimate day of the winter session, being the last sitting of the current ninth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
“As we step out from this House, we will wait for the mandate of the people. I wish everybody (both ruling and opposition) to come back and I am sure will be able to continue to serve the people,” chief minister Mukul Sangma said in his last address in the Assembly on Thursday.
Referring to senior leaders who have decided to opt out of electoral battle, Sangma said, “We will be missing a number of senior leaders who have enriched us with their wisdom and knowledge.”
Extending his best wishes to them, the chief minister however said for political class there is no end to serve the people even as he lauded the Speaker AT Mondal for demonstrating the much-needed quality of a Speaker.
Terming the present term as ‘amazing’, Sangma lauded the role of the opposition in raising various issues concerning the state and which are often skip the attention of state government.
While participating in the House, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy urged the chief minister to do something about the pathetic condition of the roads in Shella, a constituency represented him.
“There is still time for the state government to do justice for friends who have failed in some sectors. My roads are not because I fail it is because government is not helping me. The CM still has time to act,” he said.
Wishing to see all legislators come back in the next House, Roy, who is also the chief of the United Democratic Party (UDP) also said whether they can form an All Party government in Meghalaya.
“The best government in a state like ours should be by an all party where there is no ruling and no opposition,” he said.
Roy however urged that whether legislators come back or not, everybody should continue to be as friends and help each other especially those who may be unlucky of not getting a chance to come back as public representative.
“We do not know how many will return but can we continue our friendship,” he said.
Congress veteran leader and former five-time chief minister DD Lapang, who have call it a quit by deciding not to contest in the upcoming elections also expressed his best wishes to all members, who are preparing for the electoral battle in 2018.
“We have come to the end of this five year journey and we have been proud to belong to this House,” he said while lauding the leadership of the Speaker in maintaining the decorum of the House.
“I hope this house will maintain its dignity for the name of Meghalaya will continue to be in great heights. We will meet again in whatsoever field we work,” the veteran leader added.
Echoing similar views, deputy chief minister Roytre C Laloo while hoping the very best for all members said, “I am glad that I could call it a day as I have always wanted to stop contesting elections. However I am sure to see you all in this House from the visitor’s gallery.”
He also expressed that it was a privilege for him to be sitting in the midst of veteran leaders like Lapang, Salseng C Marak and Rowell Lyngdoh besides two Donkupars (Donkupar Roy and H Donkupar R Lyngdoh) in his 25 years as MLA.
On the other hand, opposition HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that he hoped that the state gets a better government which can deliver in the upcoming 2018 elections.
“We also hope to get better opposition who will take up issues concerning the state to wake up the state government,” he added.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours