SHILLONG: Meghalaya assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on Thursday accorded recognition to the merger of 12 Congress MLAs with the Trinamool Congress.
The merger of the 12 MLAs - Mukul Sangma, Marthon Sangma, Jimmy D Sangma, Lazarus M Sangma, Miani D Shira, H M Shangpliang, George B Lyngdoh, Winnerson D Sangma, Dikkanchi D Shira, Zenith M Sangma, Charles Pyngrope and Shitlang Pale - with the Trinamool Congress was recognised under paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution with effect from November 24.
In a notification issued by the Meghalaya assembly secretariat on Thursday, it was also said that the speaker had dismissed the petition filed by Congress legislature party leader Ampareen Lyngdoh seeking disqualification of the 12 Congress MLAs who had left.
Informing that 12 petitions were submitted to him by Ampareen against the 12 Congress MLAs for disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, speaker Lyngdoh said that as required, under Rule 7(3)(b) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1988, notices were issued from the assembly secretariat to 10 MLAs - Mukul, Marthon, Jimmy, Lazarus, Miani, Shangpliang, George, Winnerson, Dikkanchi and Zenith - asking them to submit their comments.
"After examining in detail all the 12 petitions filed by the petitioner Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh, MLA, and the comments received from all the 12 respondents, I am satisfied that the merger of the 12 members of the Indian National Congress is valid as provided under paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India, and does not attract disqualification. I do not find any merit in the submissions made in the petitions filed by Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh, MLA, and therefore, the same is hereby dismissed," the speaker said.
