SHILLONG, March 9: Newly-elected Assembly Speaker, Thomas A Sangma on Thursday said his long and close relations with former Lok Sabha Speaker, the late Purno A Sangma, will help him conduct the business and procedures of the House well.
“The relationship was more political. As many might have observed, I have been associated with him for more than 35 years,” Sangma told reporters after being elected unopposed as the Speaker during the special session of the Assembly on Thursday.
He said he learnt all parliamentary procedures first-hand from the former LS Speaker and the knowledge gained will help him do his job as the Speaker.
“I hope I will be able to give a free and fair chance to all legislators and it will help bring about transformation to our beloved state,” Sangma said.
He further stated that he will ensure all MLAs are treated impartially and that he will be fair enough during the course of House proceedings.
He said he will ensure that the construction of the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang, New Shillong Township is completed at the earliest. He said he will visit the site after the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Monday to assess the status of construction work.
“It is only then that I will be able to brief about the progress and how to move forward for the completion of this important project,” the Speaker said.
Stating that the government has already spent a huge amount of money on the project, he said the mishap caused delay in the completion of work.
“I will have to assess properly before taking any decision as far as this project is concerned,” Sangma said.
The work was suspended after the central dome had collapsed on May 22 last year. It resumed in November last year.
Facing criticism from various quarters after the incident, the state government invited a team from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati to conduct a safety audit of the building.
Meanwhile, Sangma said he is in touch with an organisation from the Delhi Parliamentary Research Society for conducting an orientation programme, especially for the newly-elected MLAs.
“The orientation programme will give the legislators some insight into how parliamentary procedures are done and how the members should conduct themselves. I have asked if a one-day orientation programme can be conducted before the budget session,” he said.
Addressing the members of the House earlier, he expressed gratitude to them for unanimously electing him as the Speaker.
“It is with great humility and great sense of honour that I take this chair of this House,” Sangma said.
He mentioned that the Meghalaya House has the reputation of being one of the most disciplined Assemblies in the country. He was confident the members will continue to maintain that tradition and the standard of debate.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said it is a matter of great happiness for him to see Sangma taking over as the Speaker.
“I am sure you will do complete justice to the post of Speaker considering that you have been a Rajya Sabha member and you witnessed the proceedings in Parliament,” the CM said.
He expressed confidence that Sangma will be able to raise and improve the overall functioning of the House.
Trinamool Congress legislator Mukul Sangma said the Speaker is fully enriched given his long association with the former Lok Sabha Speaker.
“I am pretty confident that he (Sangma) will preside over the House with efficiency. I am also sure that he will attend to various responsibilities of this House,” the former chief minister said.
Former Assembly Speaker and UDP MLA, Metbah Lyngdoh said he had initiated some steps to ensure that the functioning of the Assembly is held in a proper manner. He urged the new Speaker to take steps so that the new Assembly building work is completed early.
Others who spoke included Nongthymmai MLA and former Assembly Speaker, Charles Pyngrope and Congress MLA, Ronnie V Lyngdoh.
