Opp in disarray over LO status

SHILLONG, March 11: Opposition in the Meghalaya assembly appears to be in complete disarray. Post election the combined opposition failed to keep its flock together for ministry formation and it is unable to come together as united opposition.
First the VPP distanced itself from forming a united parliamentary group and now the Congress and TMC are unable to agree on who should lead the opposition.
MPCC chief, Vincent H Pala has said that the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly should go to the Congress by virtue of being a national party.
The TMC, on the other hand, claims to be an all-India party as much as Congress is.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Saturday, Pala said that none of the three parties (Congress, TMC and VPP) in the opposition can stake claim to the post of LO.
The Trinamool Congress and the Congress have five MLAs each while the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has four.
“As per my understanding, the post of LO should be given to the Congress being a national party. But it is the Assembly Speaker who will take decision in this regard,” the MPCC chief said.
Earlier, Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma had stated he is consulting legal experts on the matter relating to the post of LO.
“I have already sought some advice from legal experts on this matter. I will be giving my opinions only after my legal consultations are completed,” the Speaker said.
He further said that none from the Opposition parties have approached him so far.
Sangma had also said that there will be no Opposition at all if there is no LO.
“If there is an Opposition alliance, it should at least have 10 MLAs. I think this is as per the rules and procedures of the House,” the Assembly Speaker added.