Ahead of no-confidence motion against Mondal, Shullai resigns

A Correspondent

Shillong, March 23: Ahead of the no-confidence motion against the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker AT Mondal, Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai today resigned from his post.

The sudden resigtion of Shullai just two days ahead of the No-Confidence resolution to be taken up by the Opposition has fuelled speculations among the political circles.

Speaking to reporters after resigning from his post, Shullai said that he resigned on his own and was under no pressure from any quarter.

“I have resigned on persol grounds since I want to concentrate on developing my constituency,” he said.

Shullai also made it clear that his resigtion from the post of the Deputy Speaker was in no way connected with the No-Confidence motion brought by the Opposition.

On the floor of the House, Mondal announced that he has accepted the resigtion of Shullai from the deputy speaker’s post as his letter was in order.  Shullai had submitted his resigtion letter on March 21.

In the resigtion letter addressed to Mondal, he stated that his party-NCP will continue to support the Congress led MUA.

In the letter to Mondal, he also assured his commitment to work together in the government to strengthen the MUA.   

“I am confident that our party’s association in the government will give us the opportunity to provide an effective, responsive and accountable government,” Shullai said.

Shullai along with another NCP legislator, Marthon Sangma supports the ruling MUA-II coalition. Marthon is a parliamentary secretary in the government.

The no-confidence against the Speaker is slated for March 25, the last day of the budget session.

Now with the resigtion of Shullai, the responsibility of presiding over the assembly when the NC is taken up will rest on the panel of chairmen appointed by the Speaker just before the Assembly session.

Before the start of the budget session Mondal had appointed former Meghalaya assembly speaker MM Danggo, Congress legislators Ronnie V Lyngdoh, NPP’s Nihim D Shira and UDP Metbah Lyngdoh to the panel of chairman.