Meghalaya Assembly speaker upholds the merger of 12 INC MLAs into Trinamool

In a major setback for Meghalaya Congress, state legislative assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on Thursday recognised the merger of the 12 Indian National Congress MLAs with the All India Trinamool

In a major setback for Meghalaya Congress, state legislative assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on Thursday recognised the merger of the 12 Indian National Congress MLAs with the All India Trinamool Congress, as provided under the provisions of  Paragraph IV of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

The 12 legislators — Dr. Mukul Sangma, Marthon Sangma, Jimmy Sangma, Lazarus Sangma, Miani Shira, H M Shangpliang, George Lyngdoh, Winnerson Sangma, Dikkanchi Shira, Zenith Sangma, Charles Pyngrope and Shitlang Pale — had handed over the letter of merger to the speaker on November 24.

Congress had, however, challenged the merger and sought disqualification of the MLAs. Pradesh Congress chief Ampareen Lyngdoh had, on November 29, filed a petition with Metbah Lyngdoh seeking disqualification of the 12 defected legislators.

The speaker, thereafter, issued notices to the MLAs asking them to submit their response to the plea. However, upon receiving the response from the MLAs, the speaker approved their merger with the AITC.

“I am satisfied that the merger of the 12 members of INC is valid and does not attract disqualification. I do not find any merit in the submissions made in the petitions filed by Ampareen Lyngdoh, and therefore, the same is hereby dismissed,” speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said in an order issued on December 23.

COMMENTS