Opposition keen on re-convening assembly: Spokesmen

IMPHAL, January 13: Even as Governor Ved Marwah ordered 'immediate' re-convening of the House yesterday, Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy today said that efforts are on in right earnest to summon the House at the earliest and take up the no confidence motion against the ruling United Front Government. The Assembly was adjourned sine die on December 1 last year after the Speaker admitted the Opposition sponsored no confidence motion against the MSCP led United Front Government. Speaking to newsmen at the official bungalow of the Speaker this evening Dhananjoy said he has already received the order from the Governor asking him to re-convene the House soon and take up the pending no confidence motion against the ruling Front. "However I am yet to receive any co-operation from the Government regarding the reconvening of the House", said the Speaker. Commenting on the order of the Governor to immediately re-convene the House even though the Speaker had postponed the sitting of the House by 20 more days, Opposition spokesmen O Joy and Nimaichand Luwang said the decision of the Speaker is on the right track. The Governor too did not do anything wrong as he was exercising the powers conferred upon him by the Constitution of the country under Article 175 (2), they concurred. The two Opposition leaders said, like the Governor they are keen to take up the no confidence motion at the earliest. However, the treasury bench has not extended co-operation for summoning the House, they maintained. They said tension is still running high between the Opposition and the ruling after the December 1 episode. The Government also did not release the amount for repairing the Assembly on time, they alleged. Microphone firms have informed that it will take at least another 30 thirty days to replace the damaged microphones, they said. Under the circumstances it would be difficult for the Speaker to convene the House soon, they added.