Withdrawal worry triggers Kolkata dash

SHILLONG: The fickle-minded nature of former Congress MLA, M.M Danggo was what prompted Deputy Speaker Timothy Shira to rush Assembly official Andrew Simons to Kolkata on Friday to get the signature of Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy on the Ranikor legislator’s resignation letter.
Sources said there was uncertainty on Thursday whether Danggo would quit Congress to join NPP as the Deputy Speaker had to wait beyond 5pm for Danggo at the Assembly Secretariat.
Later, Danggo did not turn up to submit his resignation letter but sent it by a messenger to the Deputy Speaker at night.
Sources said the next morning, Shira did not waste time and rushed Simons by flight to get the letter of resignation approved by the Speaker.
The apprehension was that if there is a delay in accepting the resignation by the Speaker, Danggo might in by then be influenced by others to withdraw his resignation, sources added.
Simons said on Saturday that after the nod from the Speaker, since the letter was addressed to him, the matter was communicated to the Election Commission and an official notification regarding the vacant Ranikor seat would be made on Monday.
Danggo remained elusive and has not interacted with mediapersons ever since he announced his decision to quit Congress.