The Decision on Speaker Lies with MLAs: United Democratic Party

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has handed over the responsibility of deciding a suitable candidate for the post of Speaker to the MLAs of the party.

“We have entrusted the job of finding a suitable candidate for the Speaker’s post to the parliamentary party,” senior working president of the party, Bindo Lanong told reporters after the Central Executive Committee (CEC) held on Friday afternoon.

United Democratic Party, general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh said that the CEC has left it to the wisdom of the of the parliamentary party to decide on who should be the Speaker.

When asked that there were speculations that certain MLAs were reluctant to take over the Speaker’s post, Mawthoh said that the party was above any individual and that the party gives some kind of guidance to them.

Reacting to this speculation, Lanong asked why one should belittle the capability of the UDP MLAs.

“In the UDP there are so many leaders who want the Speaker’s post,” the senior working president of the party said.

The CEC of the United Democratic Party also decided that since their leader Late Dr Donkupar Roy occupied the post of Speaker, it should be left to them to decide a candidate for the post.

Meanwhile, the UDP has also urged the coalition partners in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) to allow the UDP alone to contest from the Shella set which was left vacant after the demise of Dr Roy.

It may be mentioned that the UDP has eight legislators, which includes two associate members – Samuel Sangma and SK Sunn. Moreover, the party has also decided that the general counsel of the party will be held on September 11 in Shillong.

The general council will elect new office bearers of the party for a three year term from 2019-2022. An organising committee has also been constituted with Mairang legislator, Metbah Lyngdoh as chairman. Lanong also informed that although a consensus has already been build that Late Dr Roy’s son, Balajied Kupar Synrem will contest the by-poll from the party, but the final announcement will be made during the general meeting of Shella UDP which will be held on August 22.

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