Cong demands increase of Assembly and LS seats in Meghalaya

**Congress Legislator from Mawlai PT Sawkmie speaking at Day 2 of Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly**

SHILLONG, SEPT 24: Opposition Congress legislator from Mawlai PT Sawkmie has demanded increasing the number of seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from 60 to 70 and Lok Sabha from 2 to 4 citing that this will ensure the overall development of the state.

“It is high time that the state government and all 60 MLAs to demand for increasing the number of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats for the development of the state,” Sawkmie said while moving a special motion in the Assembly here on Monday.

He said that the number of seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has remained the same since 1972 when the state got its statehood as no one came forward to place such demand.

“We need to raise the assembly seats from 60 to 70,” Sawkmie said while pointing out that the population of the state as per 2011 census is 29.64 lakh.

He also stated that Mawlai, being a big constituency, has been very difficult for him to accommodate (proposals for various developments) with just Rs 2 crore MLA scheme.

The opposition MLA said similarly, there is need to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from 2 to 4. According to him, of this two will be for Khasi and Jaintia Hills and another two will be for Garo Hills.

Stating that there is no harm in increasing the seats, Sawkmie said, “We are legislators, we have to think big and we need to aim high for the interest of the people of the state.”

Meanwhile, Sawkmie further asked the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) to use the link it is having with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ensure the state gets more central schemes for the development of the state.

“With the present link of the NPP and the BJP, the state government should demand for more funds from the centre,” he said.

While also appealing to the state government to ensure all the eleven districts get their equal shares in term of developmental schemes, the Mawlai legislator said, “I urge the chief minister to take care of all the 11 districts and examine the various project proposals.”

By Our Reporter