Cong avoids holding Assembly Session

SHILLONG: The Congress-led MUA-II government has tactfully avoided the fallout of the rebellion within the party by not convening the Assembly Session which, otherwise, would have witnessed a no-confidence motion against the chief minister.
Though the full-fledged budget session was last convened in March-April, it was mandatory for the government to convene another sitting within six months and the next session was to be held in September.
However, the argument of the government is that since a one-day special session was held in June last, the next sitting can be held any time within December.
As per norm, the chief minister writes to the Assembly Speaker informing the date to hold the Assembly session.
When contacted, an Assembly official said the next session may be held in November or December, prior to the polls.
Sources said if the session would have been held within September, the rebel Congress legislators would have moved a no-confidence motion against the chief minister and his government with the support of the Independents and the Opposition members.
In case the government collapses, this may lead to President’s Rule till the polls are held early next year and this will be advantageous to the non-Congress parties.
A rebel Congress legislator said now it was too late to demand a change of leadership as the elections were round the corner.