Defeat of no-confidence motion against Speaker AT Mondal
SHILLONG: Appeasement in various forms including offer of cabinet berths had marked the drama which culminated in the defeat of the no-confidence motion against Speaker A.T. Mondal on March 25 brought by the Opposition members.
Informed sources on Monday said the issue had become a matter of prestige for both the speaker and the chief minister as removal of the speaker would have pushed the Opposition to demand removal of the chief minister by demanding a special session once a new speaker is elected.
According to sources, the key players – former Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai, Martin M Danggo and Ronnie Lyngdoh were offered cabinet berths in place of Prestone Tynsong, H.D.R. Lyngdoh and Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh within six months – to ensure that the no-confidence motion was defeated.
After the deputy speaker resigned, the next in hierarchy, Danggo as the first among the panel of chairmen was to chair the session when the Opposition moved the no-confidence motion, but the top leaders of MUA-II met and persuaded him to abstain from the session citing illness, sources added.
This resulted in another twist by way of inclusion of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s wife Dikkanchi D Shira among the panel of chairpersons replacing Danggo.
It was on March 24 that the Speaker announced that he received a letter from Danggo which said that the legislator had to undergo treatment outside the state and hence he would not be able to attend the session.
Surprisingly, Danggo, a critic of the chief minister, was present in the Assembly the next day when the no-confidence motion was taken up to give a message that he was non-partisan.
Danggo’s presence, however, sparked criticism from the Opposition in the Assembly on March 25.
After Shullai and Danggo were denied their responsibility to chair the House, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, a trusted aide of the chief minister, was entrusted with the task of chairing the session instead of Dikkanchi Shira, who was a last choice as she was considered a novice.
Sources said that prior to the taking up of the no-confidence motion, the Opposition had secured an assurance from Shullai (then deputy speaker) after a series of discussions that he would go for a secret ballot instead of voice vote when the matter is taken up for voting.
“Sensing trouble, the top functionaries of the MUA-II Government had met Shullai on the eve of the no-confidence motion and arrived at an agreement that Shullai will resign the next day and would be given a cabinet berth within six months,” sources revealed.
After his resignation, Shullai had denied that there was any pressure on him from the chief minister to resign.
If the no-confidence motion had been put to vote by secret ballot, there would have been chances of cross voting by some Congress and Independent members to ensure removal of Speaker A.T. Mondal.
Sources said that the sole intention of the dramatic moves by the MUA-II top functionaries in the run up to the no-confidence motion was aimed at saving the government from any embarrassment.