Deputy Chief Minister and senior NPP leader Prestone Tynsong today said that he was not sure if the twelve Congress MLAs who left the party and merged with Trinamool Congress are liable to be disqualified from Assembly membership.
“I don’t think these twelve MLAs are fools. Don’t you think they have consulted their legal experts before taking such a step? Even if I had to do such a thing, I would have done due diligence otherwise I would be subjected to disqualification. So I’m sure those MLAs have already calculated and consulted with constitutional experts,” Tynsong said.
It may be mentioned that yesterday the Congress has urged Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh to disqualify all the twelve defecting legislators under the provisions of Tenth Schedule.
Newly appointed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ampareen Lyngdoh has filed a petition before the Speaker and demanded that as per Rule 7 of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1988, the twelve MLAs should be disqualified.
“It is humbly prayed that your honour be pleased to take such procedural measures as mandated under Rule 7 of the Members of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) rules, 1988,” Ampareen Lyngdoh said in petitions filed against each of the twelve defectors.
The Speaker had ruled out any illegality in the former Congress MLAs joining the Trinamool Congress. He however said that he would examine the matter thoroughly and consult legal experts.
Notably, the anti-defection law permits the merger of two-thirds members of a legislature group with another party without attracting penal provisions.
It may be mentioned that on November 25, the twelve MLAs led by former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma officially made their announcement to merge with Trinamool Congress.
