Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 18:21 IST, September 9th 2019

Meghalaya Assembly to elect new Speaker on Friday, September 13

Meghalaya Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira announced, on Monday that the election of the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker will be held on Friday, September 13

Reported by: Jay Pandya
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

On Monday, Meghalaya Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira announced that the election of the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker will be held on September 13. He said that the candidates will have to file their nomination papers on September 10 and assessment will also take place on the same day.

Metbah Lyngdoh vs Winnerson D. Sangma for the post of Speaker 

The election was necessitated following the demise of Assembly Speaker, Donkupar Roy, on July 28. Donkupar Roy, who was the president of the United Democratic Party (UDP). He was elected to the post of the Speaker on March 12, 2018. The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has nominated the Tourism Minister Metbah Lyngdoh, as its candidate for the post of Speaker. Lyngdoh, UDP leader, is a three-time member of the Meghalaya Assembly which consists of 60 members. His name was recommended by the MDA’s core committee headed by Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong.

The opposition party Congress has decided to nominate its two-time legislator, Winnerson D. Sangma. Sangma was also the candidate of the Opposition in the last election for the Speaker’s post. But he lost to Donkupar Roy, who was elected as the Speaker in March 2018.

Advertisement

READ | Meghalaya Police reports 'Rasna Scam' after drug peddlers sell Rasna Powder as drugs, netizens stoked

The MDA which comprises of six political parties, has 40 MLAs in the 60-member house. The National People’s party which leads the coalition government has 21 members, UDP has eight, People’s Democratic Front with four, two members each from Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Hill State People’s Party, one member each from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement beside one independent member.

Advertisement

READ | Duty-bound to protect people of all communities: Meghalaya government to delegation from Punjab

The autumn session of the Meghalaya legislative assembly

The autumn session of the 10th Meghalaya legislative assembly started from September 6 and it consists of six working days. The calendar for the session was approved by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) during a meeting chaired by the Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Opposition leader Mukul Sangma and former speaker Charles Pyngrope.

Advertisement

READ | One million saplings planted in Meghalaya on Environment Day

Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy passed away on July 28, in a private hospital in New Delhi. He was 65 years old. He was representing Shella constituency at the time of his death. He was a doctorate in economics from the North Eastern Hill University.

Advertisement

READ | 2019 Lok Sabha Election Results for Meghalaya: Both NDA and UPA retain their north-east footholds, winning a seat each

15:52 IST, September 9th 2019