Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 04 2009:
Opposition parties have reached an understanding to establish closer coordination among MLAs in the opposition bench during the Assembly session.
The opposition parties have also decided to allot the vacant post of Deputy Speaker to any of the Opposition parties.
The agreement for better coordination among MLAs in opposition bench was made during a meeting presided by opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam and attended by 19 MLAs yesterday.
Although the meeting came to a tentative understanding to seek the Deputy Speaker's post for an opposition MLA, it could not take any definite decision on who would be recommended for the post.
The Deputy Speaker's post has been lying vacant after MLA Th Shyamkumar resigned from the post before he surrendered to Court in connection with a case.
However, sources revealed that either NCP MLA Doukhomang Khongsai or independent MLA Awangbow Newmai may be proposed for the post.
According to information received by press, the ruling Congress party has the intention of keeping the Deputy Speaker's post for one of its MLAs in view of the possibility of Cabinet reshuffle after the current monsoon session of the State Assembly.
The opposition MLAs also agreed on exerting pressure collectively on the Chief Minister and other relevant authorities to implement recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
They also decided to urge upon the Government to hike monthly salary of MLAs from the existing scale as well as to increase MLAs' pension amount from the existing scale of Rs 8500 to Rs 20,000 in the event of implementation of the 6th Pay Commission.
In the same manner, the MLAs decided to ask for hiking the annual increment from the existing Rs 500 to Rs 1000, monthly petrol allowance of 500 litres to 1000 litres, study tour allowance from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh and MLA Local Area Development Fund from the existing Rs 40 lakhs to Rs one crore.
It also resolved to urge the State Govt station two vehicles at Manipur Bhavans located in different cities of India for use by MLAs.
The other demands the MLAs agreed to put to the Govt included allocation of separate rooms for Ministers/MLAs, exclusion of officers during meeting with the Chief Minister and taking MLAs into confidence while formulating works programmes of different Depts.
They also decided to ask all concerned to redress the problems caused by absence of Ministers in their offices when MLAs come to visit them and their (Ministers) abstinence from responding phone calls.