No-confidence motion against Meghalaya speaker defeated

The no-confidence motion against Speaker Abu Taher Mondal was rejected with a voice vote in the Meghalaya assembly on Wednesday without any discussion.

Mondal survived the no-confidence motion through a simple "No" from legislators supporting the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) after chairman Ronnie V. Lyngdoh had put the motion to vote.

The opposition legislators, who did not raise any discussion on the motion, demanded a clarification from Lyngdoh for reconstituting the panel of chairmen to preside over the assembly session after Congress legislator Martin M. Danggo was replaced by another pary legislator, Dikkanchi D. Shira.

Shira is the wife of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

On Tuesday, the speaker informed the legislators that Danggo had written to him expressing his inability to function as chairman as he was undergoing medical treatment outside Meghalaya.

But what surprised the opposition was the presence of Danggo in the assembly during the no-confidence motion.

"What is the reason for re-constituting the panel of chairmen when the member (Danggo) is in our midst today hale and hearty?" National People's Party legislator James Sangma said.

"There is something here and unless and until we are assured that there is no partiality in the proceedings, we will not initiate the discussion," he said.

He accused Mondal of "manipulation" for reconstituting the panel of chairmen.

Danggo informed the house that he had undergone medical treatment in Guwahati in Assam and attended the assembly session only after his doctor allowed him.

The opposition legislators expressed surprise on the sudden resignation of Nationalist Congress Party legislator Sanbor Shullai from the post of deputy speaker ahead of the no-confidence motion.

Sangma asked chairman Lyngdoh as to how the speaker, who was facing a no-confidence motion, could nominate a new chairperson.

"Isn't that morally improper for the speaker to decide the chairman to preside over the house when the no-confidence motion is against him? How can an accused (speaker) choose his own judge," the NPP legislator asked.

Lyngdoh clarified that the speaker can nominate the panel of chairmen from time to time.

He put the no-trust motion to voice vote after the co-movers -- Witting Mawsor, John Leslee K. Sangma and Jemino Mawthoh -- refused to initiate a discussion.

Earlier on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy demanded that the no-confidence motion be taken up immediately after question hour.

However, Mondal, citing assembly rules, rejected the demand.

In the 60-member assembly (the strength of which now stands at 59 following the death of Garo National Council member Clifford R. Marak), the ruling MUA has 29 Congress members, two NCP legislators and 11 Independent legislators.

The Opposition Meghalaya People's Front comprises eight United Democratic Party legislators, two from National People's Party and two Independents.

The opposition Hill State People's Democratic Party, which has four members, is not part of the MPF.