By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: History was created in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Monday, when senior Congress legislator, Abu Taher Mondal, was elected unopposed to the top post of the House, making him the first non tribal to hold the coveted post.
Mondal’s election as the 15th Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, was however, not all smooth sailing as all the four HSPDP legislators remained absent from the House in protest against a non indigenous person being elected to the top post.
However, the members present in the House hailed the election of a non indigenous legislator as the Speaker, terming it historic.
Mondal also was the first non tribal legislator to be inducted into the State Cabinet as a minister of state in 1998 under the then Chief Minister late BB Lyngdoh.
Pro tem Speaker Rowell Lyngdoh, before declaring Mondal’s election as the 15th Speaker of the Assembly, said that Mondal emerged as the lone candidate to contest the Speaker’s post after the nomination of HSPDP member Ardent M Basaiawmoit was rejected since no one seconded him.
Senior most leader from the Opposition UDP, Donkupar Roy, and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma accompanied Mondal to the Speaker’s chair which was subsequently followed by felicitation of the new Speaker.
Congratulating Mondal, the Chief Minister said that it was a historic occasion for the people of the State. He also recalled that when BB Lyngdoh was the Chief Minister, he also had the magnanimity to appoint Mondal as a minister.
Donkupar Roy said that the Opposition expects justice and impartiality from the newly elected Speaker when he interprets rules.
“In the past, the Speaker directly or indirectly used to take sides and as a Speaker, we hope that you will be neutral,” Roy said.
According to Roy, Mondal should also try to speed up the construction of the new Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building which has been pending for long.
He also wanted the Speaker to revise the facilities of the MLAs and urged him to initiate steps to provide a vehicle each to the legislators as this demand has been pending for the last 20 years.
Amid the criticism of the House electing a non tribal Speaker, Roy reminded Mondal to represent the State in a befitting manner when he goes out.
HDR Lyngdoh (Congress) said that there was similar protest when Mondal was made a minister by late BB Lyngdoh. “It took 26 years (from 1972 to 1998) for a non tribal to get accommodation in the ministry,” Lyngdoh said.
“When there was protest at that point of time, BB Lyngdoh told the people who were not happy, to protest against the people of Phulbari who elected Mondal and I appreciate the steps taken by the then Chief Minister,” Lyngdoh said.
DD Lapang (Congress) said he trusted Mondal’s capability and hoped that he would uphold the dignity and decorum of the House.
SC Marak, also from the Congress, who was elected after the gap of 10 years, said that Meghalaya Assembly is known outside for maintaining high standard of debates and decorum.
Marak also hoped that Mondal will live upto the expectations.
Congress MLA and former Speaker, Martin M Danggo, said that the Speaker should take steps to ensure that the ex-MLAs get their due recognition.
“At present after completion of two-and-half years, a Meghalaya legislator gets pension, but the criteria should be that after a legislator takes oath, he should be entitled with this facility,” Danggo said.
Paul Lyngdoh (UDP) said that the Speaker should act as a neutral referee in the House.
Among others who spoke on the occasion included, Congress legislators Rowell Lyngdoh, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Zenith Sangma, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Prof RC Laloo, Roshan Warjri, Deborah Marak, AL Hek, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh; UDP legislators Jemino Mawthoh and Metbah Lyngdoh; James Sangma (NPP) and Justine Dkhar (Independent).