Following the resignation of Metbah Lyngdoh on Tuesday as a Cabinet minister, there is now a vacant ministerial post in Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in Meghalaya.
Now, the question is, who will fill up the vacant ministerial post?
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Metbah Lyngdoh filed his nomination papers as a candidate for the election to the post of Speaker in the Meghalaya State Assembly.
Also read: Meghalaya tourism minister Metbah Lyngdoh to resign on Tuesday
The vacant post in the ministry led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has to be filled up soon.
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Metbah Lyngdoh tendered his resignation as a minister in charge of tourism, excise and water resources.
Lyngdoh, who is the three-time MLA of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and a consensus candidate of the MDA, was accompanied by the CM and other ministers and MLAs during the filing of nominations.
The Opposition candidate, Winnerson D. Sangma of the Congress, was accompanied by a host of Congress MLAs when he went to file his nominations.
Both Lyngdoh and Winnerson submitted their papers before Assembly’s commissioner and secretary, Andrew Simons.
“After scrutiny, the nomination papers of both the candidates were found valid,” Simons said.
The new Speaker has to be elected following the demise of former Speaker, late Dr Donkupar Roy, on July 28.
The election of new Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly will be held on September 13, the last day of the Assembly’s autumn session.
“With the support of colleagues in the MDA, there’s no doubt why I should not win the Speaker’s election,” Lyngdoh said.
Going by the numbers, Winnerson would lose to Lyngdoh, as the MDA government has a total of 40 MLAs.
But the Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma, said though the Congress has only 19 MLAs, the Opposition has put up its candidate to win the election.
“Politics is like a game of chess,” Mukul said.
With Lyngdoh leaving the ministry, questions are being asked who should fill up the vacant ministerial post.
Who from among the MDA partners should fill up the vacant post or will the post go to the UDP again since Lyngdoh had represented the UDP in the Cabinet?
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the issue would be discussed with all MDA partners on filling up of the ministerial post in place of Lyngdoh.
“Let the House gets its Speaker first and then we will take a call on this,” Conrad said.