SHILLONG: Timothy D Shira, the most senior legislator, has been elected as the deputy speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Earlier, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) won the vote of confidence and ensured the win of Speaker Donkupar Roy. The election of the NPP MLA from Resubelpara as deputy speaker on Wednesday capped off the tests that MDA had to undergo and affirmed the fact that the coalition was united.
The election to the post of deputy speaker was done through a secret ballot in which Shira secured 36 votes and Congress MLA David Nongrum from the opposition secured 20. One vote was declared invalid. It was yet to be known whom independent legislator SK Sunn favoured.
The ruling got one more vote, probably from Adelbert Nongrum (KHNAM). The strength of the MDA, including the Speaker, is 36 and on Wednesday, the Speaker did not vote but the number of votes secured by the coalition was 36.
Congratulating Shira, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said he being the eldest member of the House “will be a boon for the young legislators”.
Referring to senior MLAs Roy and Shira, Sangma said the young legislators are in safe hands.
According to him, the connect that Shira has with the grassroots has enabled him to be elected as an MLA again and his experience in the political circles would add value to the Assembly.
Opposition leader Mukul Sangma said Shira “is among the few who had contested elections several times, eight to be precise, and he never believes in giving up which is the reason that he has been once again elected as the MLA of Resubelpara”.
Sangma jokingly said that as Shira is a farmer and an entrepreneur, the distribution of pumpkins by him during polls gave him lot of votes.
Nongrum, while congratulating Shira, urged him to discharge his duties responsibly and ensure justice to every member of the House.
Congress senior leader Charles Pyngrope urged the newly elected deputy speaker to serve the House to the best of his capability. The House members burst out laughing when he added that he being the father of Nongrum could not make him win the election to the post of deputy speaker this time.
Roy, while congratulating his deputy, recalled his association with Shira.
Other MLAs like Sanbor Shullai, Lambor Malngiang, James Sangma and Thomas Sangma also congratulated the newly elected Speaker.
