Guwahati: Resubelpara MLA Timothy D. Shira was unanimously chosen without opposition to serve as the Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on the first day of the 2023 budget session.
“Timothy D Shira has been unanimously elected as the Deputy Speaker of the 11th House of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly,” Speaker Thomas A Sangma said.
All India Trinamool Congress, Voice of the People Party, and Congress, the three opposition parties, chose not to produce a candidate to challenge Shira.
Curiously, MLA Shira served as vice speaker in the previous House.
Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma and Mukul Sangma, the former leader of the opposition congratulated Shira on her selection as the Deputy Speaker of the House.
The senior National People’s Party (NPP) lawmaker from Resubelpara expressed his gratitude to all of the members for voting for him for a second term in a row.
MLA Shira promised that he would see to it that the state legislature is safeguarded.
Urging the members to maintain discipline and dignity of the House by ensuring good standards of debates Shira said, “I am also looking forward to constructive advices from both sides of the House”.
Shira also assured to extend full support to the Speaker and said, “It is an honour and privilege to share the dias with you.”
Meanwhile, speaking during the felicitation of Shira, Conrad K Sangma said, “I would like to congratulate him (Shira) on occupying the seat of a deputy speaker. The fact that he was elected unanimously reflects the kind of acceptance that all members of the House have towards Shira.”
Stating that Shira has a lot of experience in running the House, he said, “I am sure along with yourself (Speaker) and him as deputy speaker, you will conduct (the House) in the best and just manner.”
Conrad further expressed the expectation that the Assembly would operate effectively so that useful work could be done and that both the ruling party and the opposition would have a place in this House.