With no official opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Congress party is hopeful to secure a win from Sohiong and settle for a leader of opposition.
Up till now, the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) have still yet to meet over trying to find enough common ground so that they can together form the official opposition in the state Assembly to be recognised by the Speaker.
Congress leader Manuel Badwar said if the party adds another seat a decision can be reached on who will be the leader of opposition in the House.
He said an LO is of utmost importance and the opposition parties should put up a unified front against the ruling party. This, he said can be done and discuss across the table once the Sohiong election result is declared.
Sohiong will go to the polls on May 10, a few months after the rest of the state. Its election was deferred due to the death of former MLA and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate HDR Lyngdoh on February 20, one week before the polls.
In a house of 60 legislators, the leader of the opposition should be from a party with a strength of at least 10. However, no party qualifies on its own.
In the current House, the Congress with five MLAs, TMC with five MLAs, and the VPP with four MLAs are in the opposition bench.
If any two of the three parties in opposition form an alliance, the Speaker may appoint one of the senior legislators from the coalition as the leader of opposition.
