By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Assembly Speaker AT Mondal on Monday recognized UDP leader Dr Donkupar Roy as the Leader of Opposition.
In a statement released here on Monday, the Commissioner and Secretary of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Andrew Simons said that a notification in this regard has also been issued.
The latest development implies that UDP is now recognized as the main opposition party by the Speaker.
Mondal followed the ruling of the former Assembly Speaker late EK Mawlong to give recognition to the leader of the largest opposition party.
As per rule, the party which is represented by the Leader of Opposition should have at least 10 members in the Assembly (one-sixth of the total strength of the House which is 60) for recognition. But the UDP has only 8 members.
However, Mondal followed the conventional ruling of the previous Speakers which said that any party with even six members (one-tenth of the total strength of the House of 60) in the Assembly can be recognized as the main opposition party and its leader named the leader of opposition.
Meanwhile, the demand for recognition of the Meghalaya People Forum (MPF) as the official Opposition alliance is still being examined, Simons said.
“Appointment of the Opposition Leader, recognition of MPF as the official Opposition alliance and appointment of the Opposition Chief Whip were the three demands of the MPF. We have been able to take a
decision only on the first demand while the remaining two (demands) is still being examined,” Simons said.
