SHILLONG, April 14: When all was said and done, Members of Parliament (MPs) from Meghalaya were unremittingly judged over who made a mark in the Parliament and took up the state’s concerns on the floor of the House in Delhi during their tenure.
Now, Lok Sabha elections sit less than a week away and the battle is between the sitting MPs and aspiring candidates across the parties that include both national and regional parties to take up the mantle.
If representation can be somehow be related with attendance of lawmakers, Shillong MP Vincent H Pala betters the record of his Tura counterpart in the Lok Sabha, Agatha K Sangma, in terms of attendance.
As per the PRS Legislative Research, that evaluated the parliament activity of all the sitting MPs, Sangma, representing the Tura constituency has served in the 14th, 15th, and 17th Lok Sabha sessions, and her parliamentary activity in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24) reveals a 76% attendance, slightly below the national average of 79%.
The Tura MP has participated in 40 questions, engaged in 20 debates, and introduced no private member bills.
However, in the previous Lok Sabha session, that is the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14), Sangma has had 49 per cent attendance rate as compared to the 76% national average and 78 per cent attendance rate in the 14th Lok Sabha session.
Indian National Congress member Pala, on the other hand, parliamentary activity in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24) showcased a 79% attendance, in line with the national average.
He has represented the Shillong constituency and has been part of the 15th, 16th, and 17th Lok Sabha sessions.
Notably, he actively engaged in 235 questions, participated in 17 debates and introduced 2 private member bills.
As per the report, Pala has a greater engagement in the parliament through the number of questions asked and private member bills introduced, whereas Sangma exhibits a slightly lower attendance and participation rate as compared to Pala.
In the previous Lok Sabha sessions — 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19), and 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14), Pala has had an attendance rate of 92% as against the national average of 80% and 84% as against the national average of 76%.
It may also be mentioned that Pala has even featured in the top 10 wealthiest candidates’ list for the phase-I of Lok Sabha elections.
Pala features as the eight wealthiest Lok Sabha candidates among the 1,625 candidates who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections in phase 1, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and The National Election Watch.
