Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Metbah Lyngdoh on Thursday recognized the merger of the 12 Indian National Legislature Party members with the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) under paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
The Speaker of the house in an order said that on November 29, ten petitions were filed and submitted to him by Legislator M Ampareen Lyngdoh against legislators Mukul Sangma, Marthon Sangma, Jimmy D Sangma, Lazarus M Sangma, Miani D Shira, HM Shangpliang, George B Lyngdoh, Winnerson D Sangma, Dikkanchi D Shira, and Zenith M Sangma for disqualification under the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
The order by the Speaker added, “As required, under Rule 7(3)(b) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1988, notices were issued from the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat to the ten legislator asking them to submit their comments on the pleadings in the petitions filed.”
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The order that again, on December 10 two more petitions were filed and submitted to him personally by M Ampareen Lyngdoh against Charles Pyngrope and Shitlang Pale for “disqualification under the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India.”
Two more notices were issued from the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat to the two MLAs asking them to submit their comments on the pleadings in the petitions filed.
After examining the detail all the twelve petitions and the comments received from all the respondents, the Speaker said, “I am satisfied that the merger of the 12(Twelve) Members of the Indian National Congress is valid as provided under paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India, and does not attract disqualification.”
He added that he did not find any merit in the submissions made in the petitions filed M Ampareen Lyngdoh.
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It may be mentioned that in November, 12 MLAs of the Congress including Mukul Sangma, had ‘joined’ the TMC.
Mukul Sangma after joining the TMC said, “We have decided to join the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after much consideration.”
Mukul Sangma further said that the Congress party, which he and 11 other MLAs quit and joined the TMC, has failed to perform its duty as the main opposition party across India.