SHILLONG: KHADC CEM, P N Syiem questioned the position of HSPDP MDC Manstudy Nongrem as leader of opposition as HSPDP only have three MDCs in the KHADC.
He asked, “What sort of alliance the opposition has that recognises Manstudy Nongrem as the leader of opposition?”
Syiem stood up to echo the point of order raised by UDP MDC Equator Nongrang who pointed out that Nongrem had resigned from the Congress and joined the HSPDP.
“As per the Rules, there has to be at least four members or above from a party to become eligible to have the leader of Opposition,” Nongrang said on the second day of the session on Wednesday.
Stating that the Rules state that the leader of the opposition should secure 1/6th of the members, Syiem said, “The House has to be guided by the rules and law. We are also confused, Mr Chairman, Sir.”
“Manstudy Nongrem joined HSPDP which has only three members while Congress has four members. I want to know under what rules he still enjoys the status of leader of the Opposition. This will create a bad precedence in the days to come,” he said.
The Chairman of the KHADC, LG Nongsiej said that till date he had not received any letter whereas the letter recommended by the parliamentary party leader of the Congress still remains.
Meanwhile, Nongrem said, “This is not my job but it is the job of your office (Chairman’s office). At the same time, if there is any objection, it has to come from the fellow members in the opposition and not from the Ruling side.”
Pointing that the ruling coalition is called the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) led by Syiem with a total strength of 18 MDCs, Syiem said that it depended on the chairman to take necessary steps if the opposition did not inform him about the name of the opposition coalition.
The Chairman said, “Our office will do the needful.” The political parties sitting in the opposition in the KHADC include Congress, HSPDP and UDP.
However, UDP MDC Equator Nongrang extended his support to PDA led by People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman, PN Syiem. It may be mentioned that the UDP-HSPDP, PDF are part of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) at the state government.
