Tynsong defends Assembly Speaker over allegation of interfering with executive powers

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 30, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said it is not right on the part of some ministers to simply allege the Assembly Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh of interfering with the executive powers of the state government.

“The Speaker has not interfered nor has he acted like a cabinet minister,” Tynsong told reporters while reacting to reports on the allegation against the Speaker made by some “anonymous” ministers.

According to him, the Speaker must have acted on some issues as a responsible public representative in the larger interest of the people of the state in general and his constituency in particular.

The deputy chief minister also asked these ministers to discuss such grievances, if they have, with him as the in-charge of the parliamentary affairs department.

“If there is anything like that (interference) as was alleged, they (ministers) should have met and discussed it with me as anything to do with the legislative, all have to come through me. Unfortunately, nobody has approached me on this regard,” he said.

He also maintained that there is nothing wrong if the Speaker as a public representative has called some government officials for some works related to his constituency. “This cannot be taken that he is interfering with the executive powers of the state,” Tynsong further added.

On the review meeting convened by the Speaker with regards to the COVID-19 situation in the state, the deputy chief minister said this was as per decision taken between the Chief Minister, Speaker and the Leader of Opposition.

The idea is to ensure all the 60 legislators should take part in the fight against the pandemic, he said.