SHILLONG, June 11: Days after Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma recognised Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh as the leader of the opposition, questions have been raised over the alleged snub to the former chief minister and Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party leader Mukul M. Sangma.
A senior politician on Sunday said Congress and TMC have five MLAs each and as such, recognising the CLP leader as the leader of the opposition holds no merit. “Sangma was the most deserving since he is the senior-most MLA in the 11th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly besides having been a CM,” he said.
He added that the Speaker should have allowed Sangma to continue since he was the opposition leader in the previous House.
The senior politician felt the National People’s Party was not in favour of giving the opposition leader status to Sangma due to the political rivalry in the Garo Hills.
“The claim that Congress was given the position as a national party does not hold any water,” he said.
Both Congress and TMC had written to the Speaker to claim the two positions – the opposition leader and the opposition chief whip.
A senior official said on condition of anonymity that there is no specific rule authorising or allowing the Speaker to appoint anyone from the opposition bench as the opposition leader.
“The formation of an opposition alliance is a different matter but deciding on the matter is the discretion of the Speaker,” he said.
When contacted, former Speaker and TMC state president, Charles Pyngrope did not find any issue with Lyngdoh’s appointment.
“The choice was natural since Congress is a national party. The appointment is also the discretion of the Speaker,” he said, ruling out any discrimination against the TMC.
Meanwhile, the newly-elected LO said the Congress will extend support to the TMC and VPP on any pertinent issue raised by the two parties despite there being no alliance of the opposition parties.
Recalling that the VPP has decided to go alone and avoid being part of any opposition alliance, Lyngdoh said the TMC is yet to approach his party for an alliance.
“We will support the two parties based on issues they raise,” he said while adding that the Congress will play a constructive and positive role as the main opposition party.
