Opposition seeks no-confidence motion against Meghalaya government

Shillong: The combined opposition Meghalaya People's Front (MPF) and Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Monday served a notice for moving a motion of no-confidence against the Mukul Sangma-led Congress government for its failure on all fronts.

The notice to move the no-confidence motion against the Congress-NCP-led government came two days after the assembly on Friday had admitted a resolution moved by opposition chief whip James Sangma seeking the removal of speaker Abu Taher Mondal.

Mondal had set the date for taking up the resolution for his removal as September 16.

The latest notice served by opposition chief whip James Sangma, HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and United Democratic Party legislator Jemino Mawthoh was submitted to the Assembly Secretary before the start of the second day of the autumn session.

However, the speaker said that he will take a decision on the no-confidence motion against the government on Wednesday.

"I will take a decision on the no-confidence motion only after examining the matter whether to admit or not the motion against the government," Mondal told journalists.

Moreover, he said the no-confidence motion can be admitted provided that there are ten members of the House supporting the motion.

"We have decided to move no-confidence motion against the government because the general mood of the people today in the state is that this government has failed its citizens completely," Sangma said.

"As public representatives we feel it is our duty to take this feeling and bring it to the assembly in the most appropriate and strong form of dissatisfaction," he added.

Blaming the government for the prevailing law and order situation in the state, the opposition chief whip said, "Crime against women and children is on the rise which simply means the government is not competent to handle situation of law and order. Therefore, this government has failed in its duty to protect its citizens especially women and children."

Apart from the prevailing law and order situation, the Opposition accused the government of poor fiscal management.

"When the government fails to take responsibility for its failure, the Opposition has to tell them in the strongest possible way -- take the responsibility for it and admit there are a lot of problems," Sangma said.

In the 60-member assembly, the ruling Meghalaya United Alliance comprises 30 Congress members, two of the Nationalist Congress Party and 11 independents.

The opposition MPF comprises eight United Democratic Party legislators and two from Nationalist People's Party.

The opposition Hill State People's Democratic Party, which has four members, and two Independents are not part of the Meghalaya People's Front.