Shillong: The opposition Congress in Meghalaya said on Friday that it is firm on moving a resolution for the removal of Assembly Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh, who is also president of the United
Democratic Party (UDP), a constituent of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
“Yes this is a conscious decision taken by the CLP (Congress Legislature Party) to move a resolution for the removal of the Speaker from his office as per the rules, procedures and conduct of business and is consistent with the relevant provisions of Article 179 of the constitution of India,” Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly, Dr Mukul Sangma told reporters after the CLP meeting.
“The details will be discussed in the August house as we submit our stand as to why we justify our call for adopting a resolution asking the Speaker to vacate his office,” the veteran Congress legislator said refusing to divulge details on the CLP’s next move to remove Lyngdoh.
Four Congress legislators- Zenith Manda Sangma, George Lyngdoh, Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang and Kimfa S Marbaniang – had submitted a letter that Commissioner & Secretary of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Andrew Simmons moving a resolution for Lyngdoh’s removal as Speaker.
“As you all know the whole dynamics of politics and since this conscious decision of the CLP to move this resolution under the provisions of the relevant provisions of the constitution of India and relevant rules of procedures and conduct of business in the legislative assembly, we will be looking at issues which will draw the attention of every member of the August House vis-à-vis our responsibility towards the people and towards the state,” the former chief minister said.
“Based on that how they respond to their respective call of duties that is how we look at it as and when the issues are discussed and issues which revolve around the interest of the people and we made a clarion call to look at whoever feels that whatever we are saying is required to be responded to and they find it somehow justifiable to articulate their concern before the people of the state, we will look at how the discussion unfolds in the house and how they respond,” he said.
On the grounds of moving the resolution, he said, “the detail will be spoken in the August House since the house has already been summoned and since this particular issue has already been submitted before the Assembly in conformity with the rules and procedures and conduct of business, the details will be submitted when the particular issue is taken up for discussion”, he said.
Asked why not move a no-confidence motion against the government, the veteran Congress leader said, “That is a different issue that we can decide even at the eleventh hour but as far as the resolution required to be tabled before the August House with respect to the resolution for the removal of the Speaker from the office of the Speaker it required a minimum of 14 days notice”.
