Opp candidate wins Meghalaya Deputy Speaker's post

SHILLONG, August 3: Meghalaya Students Federation activists today trooped into the state Assembly shouting anti-government slogans forcing the one-day special session of House to be deferred by 30 minutes in which the Opposition candidate was elected as the deputy speaker. Ten members of the ruling Congress cross-voted in favour of the Opposition nominee Martin M Danggo of the Peoples' Democratic Movement who defeated the ruling Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum candidate, Tonsin N Marak (Congress) by 34 votes to 24. The MPF which comprises the Congress and United Democratic Party (UDP) enjoys a comfortable majority of 36 members against 24 in the Opposition. As soon as the House assembled this morning, Opposition members were up on their feet demanding the resignation of the home minister, A H Scott Lyngdoh, for his alleged failure to protect the sanctity of the House. Clifford R Marak of the Garo National Council accused the minister of not taking adequate measures "despite knowing what is going to happen." The Speaker later bowed to Opposition demands to extend the session by 90 minutes to enable a special discussion on the MSF demands. The MSF had called a statewide bandh from 4 am today demanding solution of the long-pending border dispute with Assam and reduction of superannuation age to 58 years among other issues. There were reports that the MSF would stage a dharna at the gates of the Assembly in a bid to prevent elected representatives from entering the House.