Ronnie V Lyngdoh appointed as Leader of Opposition in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 8, 2023

Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Thursday appointed Congress leaders Ronnie V Lyngdoh as Leader of Opposition and Saleng A Sangma as Opposition Chief Whip.

A notification issued by the Assembly’s Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons said that Mylliem legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh has been recognized by the Speaker as the Leader of Opposition while Gambegre legislator Saleng A Sangma has been recognized as Opposition Chief Whip in the Assembly.

This came after the Congress and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) led by former chief minister and former leader of opposition Mukul Sangma both having 5 MLAs each, had written to the Speaker for recognition.

Earlier, the Speaker could not take immediate decision as to who should become the leader of opposition in the 11th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly considering the fact that as per rule, a party which is represented by the Leader of Opposition should have at least 10 members in the Assembly (one-sixth of the total strength of 60 members in the House) for recognition. 

But the opposition parties – Congress, and TMC have five MLAs each, while the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has four MLAs, which is much below the strength of 10 members.

However, the VPP has already made it clear to maintain a separate identity in the Assembly.