MDA to have a consensus candidate for the Speaker’s post

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 27, 2019

SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has constituted a core committee to propose a consensus candidate for the Speaker’s post, election of which will be held in the upcoming autumn session of the state Assembly. 

The decision was taken at the meeting of the MDA chaired by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma in the city here on Tuesday night. 

The meeting was attended by leaders of the six political parties which include United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independents.

After the meeting, chief minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters that the MDA has constituted a 4-member core committee to be headed by the NPP leader and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong for selecting a candidate for the Speaker’s post. 

The other members of the committee include UDP leader Metbah Lyngdoh, PDF leader Banteidor Lyngdoh and BJP leader AL Hek. 

“The core committee has been asked to propose the name of the consensus candidate of the MDA within September 4. The MDA will accordingly take a final call on the matter.” Sangma said.

He informed that the election to the top post of the Assembly will be held during the upcoming autumn session which will commence from September 6. 

The election was necessitated after the death of the former Assembly Speaker and UDP chief late Dr Donkupar Roy on July 28. 

The NPP and other coalition partners also held separate meetings before attending the MDA meeting held at Hotel Pinewood. 

Earlier, the UDP, which is the main ally of the MDA, had maintained that the Speaker’s post should remain with the party. However the idea did not went well with some of the coalition partners. The PDF which is leading a newly floated sub-alliance – United Progressive Front – has also decided to project before the MDA, a candidate for the Speaker’s post.