Shillong: Meghalaya legislative assembly adjourned its budget session on Friday, including the scheduled presentation of the state budget by CM Conrad K Sangma, following the sudden demise of Shillong MP Ricky Andrew J Syngkon.Speaker Thomas A Sangma informed the house that an emergent meeting of the business advisory committee, with the govt’s consent, had resolved to suspend the day’s proceedings in view of the tragedy. The assembly convened briefly to make obituary references in honour of the departed parliamentarian before adjourning for the day.The speaker further announced that the presentation of the budget and the reply to the motion of thanks on the governor’s address would be rescheduled after a revision of the session calendar.Syngkon, 54, a first-time MP from the Voice of the People Party (VPP), passed away on Feb 19 after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing futsal at Mawiong. He had won the Shillong parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election with a resounding victory, entering the 18th Lok Sabha as a strong voice for Meghalaya and the northeast.Leaders across party lines expressed grief at his passing, remembering him as a committed public servant and active parliamentarian. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, CM Conrad Sangma, and leaders of various parties and organisations paid tributes, describing his death as a major loss for Meghalaya.
