Shillong, Aug 28: Assembly Speaker, Thomas A. Sangma, on Thursday recognised Trinamool Congress (TMC) Songsak legislator, Dr. Mukul Sangma, as the Leader of the Opposition (LO) in the eleventh Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Dr. Sangma, a former Chief Minister, was also the LO in the last Assembly, both representing the Congress and the TMC. He submitted his candidature for the LO position on Wednesday, following the resignation of Congress’s Ronnie V. Lyngdoh from the post a day prior.
Lyngdoh had to put in his papers after the Congress was reduced to just one member in the House from five MLAs, after the defection of three of the Congress legislators – Gabriel Wahlang, Charles Marngar and Celestine Lyngdoh – and subsequent merger with the National People’s Party (NPP).
Another Congress legislator, Saleng A. Sangma, resigned from the House after his victory in the Lok Sabha elections from Tura constituency. Following these developments, the TMC remained the largest opposition party in the House with five legislators.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh has been appointed as the Opposition Chief Whip. He had earlier extended his support to Dr. Sangma for the LO’s position in the House.
 Songsak legislator, Dr. Mukul Sangma, as the Leader of the Opposition (LO) in the eleventh Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.){kind=link}