SHILLONG: The political drama involving the resigned Congress legislator MM Danggo, took a new twist on Friday as an Assembly official carried his letter of resignation all the way to Kolkata to get the approval of Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy, who is camping in the Meghalaya House there.
There was suspense and drama on Thursday evening as Danggo had not turned up to submit his resignation letter to the Assembly Deputy Speaker Timothy Shira and instead, the letter was sent to him through a messenger.
After the deputy speaker forwarded the resignation letter of Danggo on Friday morning, the same was carried by the Assembly Commissioner and Secretary, Andrew Simons in a flight to Kolkata to get the approval of the Speaker.
The Speaker was camping in Meghalaya House, Kolkata after his return from Chennai. He will return to Shillong on Saturday evening.
When contacted, Simons said that since the letter was addressed to the Speaker, his approval was necessary.
To a query, the official said after the approval of the Speaker on Friday night, he would intimate the matter to the Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor for notification regarding the vacant Ranikor seat.
When asked why there was urgency to rush to Kolkata as the Speaker will be back in Shillong on Saturday evening, Simons said it was just to speed up the official notification.
However, sources said that the NPP-led government wanted the Speaker to accept the resignation at the earliest as there are chances that the Congress may influence Danggo to reconsider his decision.
Earlier on Thursday, Home Minister James Sangma said that the deputy speaker had accepted the resignation of Danggo.
However, the deputy speaker said he had only received the resignation and added that he cannot accept it since it was addressed to the Speaker.
He added that since the House is not in session, the Speaker is the right authority to receive and accept any resignation letter.
To a question, Shira said that since Danggo did not want to face the media on Thursday at the Assembly Secretariat at Police Bazar, he delayed his decision and informed that he would send his letter of resignation later.
According to Shira, the resignation letter was sent to him by a person who is associated with Danggo.
However, sources said an NPP minister met the deputy speaker and handed over the resignation letter of Danggo.
The Congress spokesperson Zenith Sangma said the convention is that the person, who resigns, should personally submit his resignation letter to the Speaker or in his absence the deputy speaker.
