SHILLONG : The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) has further strengthened its position in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly after three legislators of the United Democratic Party (UDP) moved to merge with the ruling party, taking the NPP’s tally to 36 MLAs and leaving the UDP with just one legislator.
The three MLAs involved in the merger are West Shillong legislator Paul Lyngdoh, Mawkyrwat legislator Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Mookaiaw legislator Nujorki Sungoh.
Paul Lyngdoh and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar met Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma and submitted their merger letter. Nujorki Sungoh could not attend the meeting as he was undergoing a medical check-up.
The two legislators were accompanied by NPP state president and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and NPP national vice-president and Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Speaker, Tynsong said the NPP’s strength had increased to 36, while the final decision on the merger rested with the Speaker.
“Our strength has increased to 36. As of now, we leave it to the wisdom of the Assembly Speaker,” Tynsong said, adding that Nujorki Sungoh would also be part of the group in the coming days.
He expressed hope that the Speaker would issue a favourable decision recognising the three legislators as part of the NPP.
Tynsong further informed that the party was working out a date for the formal joining programme, which would be announced soon.
On the merger process, the NPP state president said the documents had been submitted to the Speaker for scrutiny and that the final ruling would be delivered after the papers were examined.
“The main papers are about the merger. The Speaker will examine it thoroughly and in the days to come, he will give his final ruling,” he said.
Rejecting speculation that the move was linked to demands for cabinet positions, Tynsong maintained that the merger was driven by political and governance considerations rather than ministerial berths.
He said Paul Lyngdoh had indicated that the decision to join the NPP was based on fundamental issues that the legislators believed the ruling party could address in the interest of governance in Meghalaya.
“There is no precondition at all,” Tynsong asserted.
Asked whether the lone remaining UDP MLA should continue as a cabinet member, Tynsong declined to comment, saying the question should be directed to the UDP president.
“I am not the president of the UDP, I am the president of the NPP,” he said.
The proposed merger marks another significant setback for the UDP, which has seen its representation in the Assembly reduced to just one MLA, while the NPP continues to consolidate its position in Meghalaya’s ruling coalition.