Newly-elected MLAs of Meghalaya take oath

Shillong: All 58 newly-elected legislators of the 10th Meghalaya Assembly today took oath before Pro-tem Speaker Timothy Shira at a special session held here.

Shira, 68, is the oldest member of the House.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma of the National People’s Party (NPP), who is currently the Lok Sabha MP from Tura, was present during the oath taking ceremony.

His predecessor Mukul Sangma of the Congress, who was elected for the sixth time, took oath for the two seats he won Ampati and Songsak.

United Democratic Party (UDP) supremo Donkupar Roy, also a former CM, took oath for the seventh time as member of the Assembly.

Meanwhile, it was decided that the Speaker election would be held on March 12.

The NPP would field Donkupar Roy of the UDP for the Speaker’s post while the opposition Congress decided to put up Winnerson D Sangma for the post, sources said.

Of the 58 MLAs, 27 were elected for the first time.