Shillong, March 21 (IANS): Senior legislator of the ruling National People’s Party Timothy Dalbot Shira on Wednesday was elected the Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly.
Speaker Donkupar Roy declared Shira elected after he defeated Congress candidate David Nongrum by 16 votes in the 60-member House with an effective strength of 58.
Shira, a former Deputy Chief Minister and the oldest member in the assembly, polled 36 votes and Nongrum 20. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma could not vote as he is not an elected member of the Assembly. When Roy was Chief Minister at the head of the Meghalaya Progessive Alliance in 2008, Shira was Deputy Chief Minister and now with Roy as Speaker, Shira is once again his deputy -- a rare turn of events that was talked about by all members of the assembly.
Congratulating Shira, the Chief Minister said: “He is a fatherly figure to me who taught me many things. He is a competent man who leaves no stone unturned in serving the people.”
Leader of Opposition Mukul Manda Sangma said the three-time legislator from Resubelpara was a highly respected leader who was close to the people and came with a “wealth of experience”.
Describing Shira as his “trusted friend”, Roy said: “We have worked together in the government and the opposition for the last 30 years and he is a trusted friend and he always stands by his principles.”
The NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government has 19 MLAs in the House. It is supported by six from United Democratic Party, four from People’s Democratic Front, two members each from Hill State People’s Democratic Party and the BJP, one Nationalist Congress Party MLA and two Independents.
The opposition Congress has 20 members.
