Congress legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh resigned from his position as Leader of the Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Commissioner Secretary of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Dr. Andrew Simons, confirmed, “The Speaker has accepted his resignation.”
Following the 2023 Assembly Election, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, who represents the Mylliem Assembly constituency, was nominated as Leader of the Opposition by the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Thomas A Sangma. This nomination came after no political party in the opposition could secure the requisite number of seats to claim the post.
Lyngdoh’s resignation comes in the wake of significant shifts within the state’s political landscape. On August 19, three Congress MLAs—Dr Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning), Charles Marngar (Mawhati), and Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin)—merged with the National People’s Party (NPP), leaving Ronnie V Lyngdoh as the lone Congress MLA in the Assembly.
Earlier on Friday, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma has stated that he is awaiting the resignation of Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, the lone Congress legislator, from his position as the Leader of the Opposition.
Speaking to Mediapersons, the Speaker mentioned that if Lyngdoh does not submit his resignation, he will proceed to de-notify him from the role.
When asked about the possibility of the opposition TMC being given the opportunity to assume the position, Speaker Sangma noted that since no formal request has been made by the opposition parties, he will exercise his discretion in making the final decision as the requisite number is not there.