Ronnie V Lyngdoh
Guwahati: The lone Congress MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh has joined the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in Meghalaya. Congress is now left with no representation in the 60 member state assembly.
Lyngdoh, who was elected to the state Assembly in the 2023 elections from the Mylliem Assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills District, served as the opposition chief whip.
Lyngdoh submitted a letter of merger to Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma in the presence of senior NPP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
The Speaker later said that he examined Lyngdoh's letter and found it in order as per Assembly rules.
"From now onwards, he (Lyngdoh) would be recognised as an MLA of the NPP in the Assembly," the Speaker announced.
Deputy Chief Minister Dhar also told the media that Lyngdoh formally joined the NPP on Wednesday.
In the 2023 Assembly polls Congress won five seats in the Meghalaya Assembly. Three of the five MLAs joined the ruling NPP headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on August 19 last year, while legislator Saleng Sangma was elected to the last Lok Sabha election (2024) from the Tura Parliamentary constituency, reducing the number of party members in the Assembly to just one.
The NPP's tally has risen to 33 MLAs, further strengthening its position at the helm of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), which includes the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP).
The UDP has 11 members, and HSPDP has two MLAs. With two MLAs, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also a partner of the MDA coalition government.
The Trinamool Congress in August 2023 was recognised as an opposition party in the Meghalaya Assembly, and party leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
Lyngdoh, who was elected to the state Assembly in the 2023 elections from the Mylliem Assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills District, served as the opposition chief whip.
Lyngdoh submitted a letter of merger to Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma in the presence of senior NPP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
The Speaker later said that he examined Lyngdoh's letter and found it in order as per Assembly rules.
"From now onwards, he (Lyngdoh) would be recognised as an MLA of the NPP in the Assembly," the Speaker announced.
Deputy Chief Minister Dhar also told the media that Lyngdoh formally joined the NPP on Wednesday.
In the 2023 Assembly polls Congress won five seats in the Meghalaya Assembly. Three of the five MLAs joined the ruling NPP headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on August 19 last year, while legislator Saleng Sangma was elected to the last Lok Sabha election (2024) from the Tura Parliamentary constituency, reducing the number of party members in the Assembly to just one.
The NPP's tally has risen to 33 MLAs, further strengthening its position at the helm of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), which includes the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP).
The UDP has 11 members, and HSPDP has two MLAs. With two MLAs, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also a partner of the MDA coalition government.
The Trinamool Congress in August 2023 was recognised as an opposition party in the Meghalaya Assembly, and party leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
