NPF legislator, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier was unanimously elected as the new speaker of the State Legislative Assembly on the first day of the budget session, Tuesday. Dr. Imtiwapang name was proposed by ministers– P. Longon and Y. Vikheho Swu and seconded by minister Chotisuh Sazo, and parliamentary secretaries- Khriehu Liezietsu and Er. Levi Rengma.
The 44-year old was declared unopposed by deputy speaker, Imtikumzuk after the Governor’s address. The post of Speaker became vacant after the then Speaker Chotisuh Sazo was inducted as minister of Public Health Engineering by chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu on February 22. Aier was elected to the assembly in the 2013 on a Congress ticket from Impur constituency under Mokokchung district.
However, he along with seven other Congress MLAs merged with ruling NPF in November 2015 when T.R. Zeliang was the chief minister. He held the post of Parliamentary Secretary for Geology and Mining in the Zeliang’s ministry.
Chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu in his speech expressed hope that Dr. Imtiwapang Aier, a highly qualified, fast and keen learner would be able to conduct the business smoothly and maintain decorum in the house and also carry out duties and responsibilities within and outside the state.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier expressed gratitude to all the members for electing him to hold the dignified office and assured to give his best to “up-hold the cherished traditions and the non-partisan character of the office”. Describing the 12th NLA as a unique house with no opposition, he said such instance was rare in any democratic form of government. He therefore urged the legislators to avoid “political apathy and depression” and deliver services to the people.
MLAs free to raise questions in NLA
Interacting with media persons after assuming the Speaker’s chair, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier said that there was no restriction on MLAs to raise questions in the assembly, instead they are free to raise question in the floor of the house during the question hours.
He made this statement, when he was asked to comment on the alleged threat on BJP legislator Mmhonlumo Kikon for tabling questions about home department for the forthcoming NLA assembly session. He further said that the MLA has to produce proof in order to substantiate his claim.
Dr. Imtiwapang stand was that the document which was circulated in social media does not bear the signature of Mmnholumo, therefore the person whoever drafted the question(s) might have leaked it to social media.
Commissioner and secretary NLA N. Benjamin Newmai also said as per the procedure, the NLA has not refused or restricted “at any point of time” to any of the MLA’s to raise questions.
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