In a shocking development in poll-bound Meghalaya, eight sitting MlAs of the Meghalaya legislative Assembly — including five of the ruling Congress — on Friday resigned from the Assembly to join the National Peoples’ Party (NPP) founded by former lok Sabha Speaker late PA Sangma.
The eight sitting legislators — Siawbhalang Dhar, Comingone Ymbon, Hopeful Bamon, Stephanson Mukhim, Prestone Tynsong, Remington Pyngrope, Rowell lyngdoh and Ngaitlang Dhar — submitted their resignation letters to Assembly Secretary Andrew Simon on Friday morning.
All the eight legislators are likely to join the NPP formally at a function to be held on January 4. The NPP is a partner of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and also part of the BJP-led coalition Government in Manipur.
With Friday’s resignation, which comes days after another MlA PN Syiem quit the Congress, the number of party MlAs in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly has come down to 24 from 30.
Although the development ahead of the forthcoming Assembly polls slated for early next year came as a shocker for the ruling Congress, there is no immediate threat to the Congress Government as it has support of nine Independents which takes its tally to 33.
“I am from the Congress but I have decided to leave party since leadership in the State had failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Even in the Cabinet meetings he (Mukul Sangma) never consults anything with us and does whatever he likes,” said Prestone Tynsong after tendering his resignation. He said that the style of functioning of the Chief Minister also forced him to quit.
It may be mentioned here that Tynsong was dropped from the Meghalaya Cabinet earlier this year.
It may be mentioned here that trouble seems to have started in the Government after the Chief Minister had in August this year dropped Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar and inducted Celestine lyngdoh and Comingone Ymbon. Interestingly, Ymbon had also resigned.
Another distress for the ruling party, particularly ahead of the polls, could be the fact that veteran party leader and former Chief Minister DD lapang, who is the president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has also decided not to contest the forthcoming polls due to his age. Following lapang, Deputy Chief Minister RC laloo and Health Minister Roshan Warjri also decided not to contest the forthcoming polls.