The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) has chosen Tourism Minister Metbah Lyngdoh as the candidate for the post of Assembly Speaker.
Lyngdoh’s name was recommended by the core committee of the MDA headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
The name of Lyngdoh as MDA’s consensus candidate for the Speaker’s election was approved during the MDA meeting at Shillong on Wednesday evening.
Tynsong said the core committee submitted a report to the MDA government regarding the name of Lyngdoh as the consensus candidate for the Speaker’s post.
After the MDA meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma congratulated Lyngdoh on being chosen as the consensus candidate for the post of Speaker and extended best wishes to him.
Regarding the Cabinet berth to fall vacant as Lyngdoh would soon quit as minister, the CM said, “This issue would be discussed later and the focus of the MDA government was on the consensus candidate for the Speaker’s post.”
“I feel it is an honour for me on being elected as the candidate for the Speaker’s post,” Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh is the three-time MLA of the United Democratic Party (UDP) from Mairang Assembly constituency.
The election to the post of Speaker will be held in the upcoming autumn session which will begin from September 6.
The Speaker election is likely to take place either on September 10 or 13.
The election of new Speaker is necessitated following the death of Speaker and veteran MLA from Shella Constituency, Dr Donkupar Roy Dkhar on July 28.
Donkupar, who was the president of the UDP, was elected to the post of Speaker on March 12, 2018.