SHILLONG, DEC 29: For the first time in the history of the state, as many as eight sitting legislators which include from the ruling Congress party today resigned as members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly just two months ahead of the state elections to be held early next year.
Their decision also came as a major boost to the opposition National People’s Party (NPP), which will officially welcome all the eight legislators to its fold in a grand public rally to be held on January 4.
Of these, five are from the ruling Congress party, two are independents, who are supporting the MUA-II government and one from the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
All of them tendered their letters of resignation to the Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal through the Assembly’s Commissioner and Secretary Andrew Simons at the old Assembly premises located in the heart of the city – Khyndailad here.
Mondal was not in the state capital as he is on tour to his Phulbari constituency.
The eight legislators include Congress veteran leader and former deputy chief minister Rowel Lyngdoh from Mawkyrwat constituency, three former ministers – Prestone Tynsong from Pynursla constituency, Sniawbhalang Dhar from Nartiang constituency and Comingone Ymbon from Raliang constituency – and Ngaitlang Dhar from Umroi constituency.
The two independent MLAs include Stephanson Mukhim from Amlarem constituency and Hopeful Bamon from Sutnga-Saipung constituency and UDP sitting legislator Remington Pyngrope from Mawkynrew constituency.
With today’s political development, altogether nine MLAs have so far resigned as members of the Assembly including suspended Congress MLA from Mawsynram constituency, Pynshngainlang N Syiem, who recently joined the People’s Democratic Front, a newly floated regional party in the state.
The current ninth Assembly has now been reduced to only 51 out of 60 members.
It may be mentioned here, the ruling Congress earlier was having a strength of 30 elected members but now has reduced to only 24 members.
But the Congress-led government led by chief minister Mukul Sangma is still commanding majority with 35 members, which comprised of 24 Congress legislators, eight Independents, two NCP MLAs, and one MLA of the North East Socialist Democratic Party (NESDP).
Earlier 11 Independents were part of the Congress-led government, but one has withdrawn support and two have resigned as members of the Assembly.
The Opposition which earlier comprised of eight MLAs of the United Democratic Party (UDP), four of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party, two National People’s Party and two Independents, has a combine strength of 16 members has been reduced to 15 members after the resignation of UDP MLA, Remington Pyngrope.
Speaking to reporters, Rowell Lyngdoh, a veteran Congress leader in the state, later informed that all the eight MLAs who resigned today will be formally joining the National People’s Party at a rally of the party next week.
“We are joining the NPP on January 4 at a rally at Pologrounds,” Rowell said, adding that it was a difficult decision to take personally to leave the Congress but that he was compelled to do so because of the people.
Hitting at the current chief minister, the former deputy chief minister said, “The autocratic style of functioning of the chief minister has made it difficult for him and his other cabinet colleagues to function in the government.”
Citing an example, Rowell said the decision to set up a medical college in the state capital on PPP mode and another one in Tura to be funded by the state government, was taken without consultations in the cabinet.
He also slammed the state Congress president D D Lapang, who gave in to the dictats of the chief minister and went ahead and dissolved the block congress committee in many constituencies including his.
Senior Congress leader and former cabinet minister Prestone Tynsong on the other hand said the prospect of the Congress in Meghalaya will be badly hit.
By Our Reporter
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