SHILLONG: The post of deputy speaker of the Assembly may remain vacant till 2018 as the State government is yet to make any decision on filling the post.
When contacted, Assembly Speaker AT Mondal said he was yet to receive any communication from the government regarding the matter.
In a dramatic turn of events in March last year, NCP legislator Sanbor Shullai, who had held the post of the deputy speaker, resigned to ensure that the Opposition was tackled by any other Chairman of the House when the no-confidence motion against the Speaker was taken up.
Later, the then Chairman Ronnie V Lyngdoh tactfully handled the no-confidence motion leading to its defeat.
Sources said that the MUA-II government had a role in facilitating the resignation of Shullai who, however, had said in the past that his resignation had nothing to do with the no-confidence motion against the Speaker.
Recently, Shullai was accommodated as the Co-Chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board. He was also allotted a room in the Main Secretariat.
Sources said as the post of deputy speaker is still vacant, the Chief Minister may use the opportunity to accommodate any disgruntled legislator in the MUA-II as the new deputy speaker.
