Sanbor Shullai resigns as deputy speaker

SHILLONG, MAR 23: In an intriguing move the lone Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Sanbor Shullai quit the post of a Meghalaya Legislative Assembly’s deputy speaker  on Monday fueling speculation. His resignation comes just two days ahead of the no confidence motion moved against speaker Abu Taher Mondal by the opposition.

Shullai however told reporters that his resignation had nothing to do with the no confidence motion against the speaker and informed that he resigned after consulting with his party as he wanted to devote his time working for his constituency.

If a no confidence motion is moved against the speaker, usually the assembly deputy speaker presides over the house when the NC is taken up. The NC against the speaker is slated to be taken up on the last day of the ongoing session on March 25.

Now with the resignation of Shullai, the job of presiding over the assembly when the NC is taken up is usually done by one of the members of the panel of chairmen appointed by the speaker just before the assembly session.

Before the start of the budget session Mondal had appointed former Meghalaya assembly speaker MM Danggo, Congress legislators Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Nihimn D Shira and UDP Metbah Lyngdoh to the panel of chairman. One of them will have to presides during the NC against the speaker.

Mondal told reporters on Monday that he has accepted the resignation of Shullai from the deputy speaker’s post as his letter was in order.  Shullai had submitted his resignation letter on March 21.

Shullai was the assembly deputy speaker for two consecutive term in  the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) led government.

In his letter, Shullai stated that he had taken a conscious decision to tender his resignation from the post of Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly with immediate effect.” He said, “I am confident that our party’s association in the government will give us the opportunity to provide an effective, responsive and accountable government.”

Shullai also reaffirmed his commitment to working together in the government. According to him, the firm objective is to further strengthening the MUA government for overall good of the people and the state as a whole,

Shullai, also remarked that the Congress led MUA government has put the state to  new growth trajectory through numbers of new and multi-pronged developmental strategy adding the visibility of developmental initiatives are already on the ground.

Later, Shullai occupied his seat in the treachery bench leaving the deputy speaker’s chair vacant.- By Our Reporter