Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal today said that there has been no communication to his office from the Congress party with regards to the suspension of one of its member Pynshngain N Syiem.
"There has been no communication to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from the party on this (suspension)," Mondal said after Syiem raised a point of order questioning the fate of suspended members inside the House here today.
Syiem brought to the notice of the Speaker that the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) had issued a suspended order on December last year against him for three years.
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While seeking further clarification on the matter, he said, "Today I came early in the House to know my position and found that I am very much in the jurisdiction of the treasury bench despite of me being barred to be in the party."
Syiem, who was made to sit next to former Health minister AL Hek went on to add, "I am confused whether I am still in the treasury bench or just an attached member," adding "Please tell us whether my seat will be in treasury or the opposition."
On this, the Speaker said that as per convention the seating arrangement for suspended members will be allocated with the party he belonged.
"You will be given separate seat only if you are expelled," Mondal stated.
When Syiem again raised the issue whether it is still permissible for him to sit in the ruling room, the Speaker said, "There is no bar on this and in fact my room is also open for you."
Later Congress chief and former chief minister DD Lapang said that it is a simple common sense as the word 'suspended' and 'expelled' is different.
"The action taken against him (Syiem) for some omission is an internal matter of the party. Therefore the question of being outside and not a Congress man is wrong," Lapang, who is also the government's chief adviser, added.
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