Newly elected Meghalaya MLAs to take oath in Assembly on March 6

Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan congratulates Pro-tem Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly T D Shira after administering oath, in Shillong, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Credit: PTI Photo

A special session of the Meghalaya Assembly has been convened for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected MLAs and the election of the speaker, a senior official said on Sunday.

The new House, with 59 members, will have its first sitting on Monday, when the pro-tem speaker administers the oath of office to the legislators, the official said.

The House will be meeting again on March 9 for the election of speaker, commissioner and secretary of the Assembly, Andrew Simons, told PTI.

Also Read | HSPDP MLA's office set ablaze for supporting NPP-BJP alliance in Meghalaya

The BJP-backed NPP-led alliance with 32 MLAs has staked claim to form the next government in Meghalaya, under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma.

The NPP won 26 seats in the recently concluded elections, while its ally, the BJP, won only two seats.

Two Hill State People’s Democratic Party MLAs, who have won the elections, have also pledged their support to the NPP-BJP coalition, along with 2 other Independent legislators.