MLAs take oath

The newly elected members of the ninth Meghalaya assembly standing up during the national anthem inside the Meghalaya assembly. Pix by WT Lyttan

SHILLONG, MAR 7: Fifty-eight newly elected legislators were administered the oath by the pro-term speaker Rowell Lyngdoh at the Meghalaya legislative assembly premises on Thursday. Of the 58 legislators, twenty seven of them are new faces.

The newly elected Congress legislator Ngaitlang Dhar was however not present for the oath taking ceremony. He will take the oath on a later date.

The oldest legislator to take the oath was eighty-four year old Hills State People”s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president and Nongstoin legislator Hopingstone Lyngdoh and youngest was thirty-three year old Independent legislator Rophul S Marak who was elected from Rongara Siju constituency.

The oldest legislator Hopingstone Lyngdoh has been elected eight times out of nine. He did not contest the 1978 assembly election as he went on to become Shillong Lok Sabha MP. On Thursday when pro-term speaker Rowell Lyngdoh administered the oath to Hopingstone he got the longest and the loudest applause from other members.

The ninth Meghalaya assembly will see as many as twenty-eight new legislators.

Of the twenty-eight newly elected legislators, eleven are Independents, nine Congress, four UDP, two HSPDP, and one each from NESDP and NCP.

The eleven Independent legislators who took oath are Robinus Syngkon, Hopeful Bamon, Justine Dkhar, Stephanson Mukhim, Julias Kitbok Dorphang, David A Nongrum, Brigady Marak, Michael T Sangma, Ashahel D Shira, John Leslee K Sangma and Rophul S Marak.

Congress legislators who took oath except Ngaitlang Dhar were Celestine Lyngdoh, Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem, Sengnam Marak, Noverfield R Marak, Dikkanchi D Shira, Winnerson D Sangma and Kennethson R Sangma.

The new faces from the UDP who took oath are Embhalang Syiemlieh, Jemino Mawthoh, Titosstarwell Chyne and Brolding Nongseij.

Two new HSPDP legislators Phlastingwell Pangniang and Witting Mawsor were also among the new faces to take oath. One legislator each from NESDP Lamboklang Mylliem and NCP Marthon Sangma also took the oath. – By Our Reporter