SHILLONG, JAN 30: The strength of the current ninth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has been reduced to 40 with the resignation of more and more sitting legislators ahead of the state polls, slated to be held on February 27.
Another two sitting legislators – Rophul S Marak and Bluebell R Sangma, today resigned as members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Both Rophul, an Independent legislator from Rongara-Siju constituency, and Bluebell, Congress sitting legislator from Chokpot constituency tendered their resignations to the Speaker AT Mondal, Assembly’s Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons said on Tuesday.
Bluebell was elected as MLA in the Chokpot bye-election held in 2015. The ruling Congress however denied party ticket to Bluebell and instead named Lazarus Sangma as its official candidate from Chokpot constituency.
Yesterday, Mawryngkneng Independent MLA David A Nongrum also resigned from his elected post after he was named as the Congress candidate for the upcoming Assembly polls last week.
Last week NCP MLA Marthon Sangma and Independent MLA Brigaddy Marak also resigned from their elected posts and joined the Congress party.
Altogether, a total of 20 of 60 sitting legislators have resigned so far as members of the ninth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to seek re-election from other political parties in the upcoming Assembly elections.
These include seven former Congress legislators, seven independents, two NCP MLAs and one United Democratic Party (UDP) MLA.
Those from the Congress who left and joined the National People’s Party (NPP) include former deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh (Mawkyrwat) and three former cabinet ministers Prestone Tynsong (Pynursla), Coming One Ymbon (Raliang), Sniawbhalang Dhar (Nartiang) and Ngaitlang Dhar (Umroi).
AL Hek, also a former Congress legislator from Pynthorumkhrah, however joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while suspended Congress member from Mawsynram PN Syiem joined the newly floated People’s Democratic Front (PDF).
From the NCP, Sanbor Shullai, a former legislator of South Shillong went and joined the BJP while Marthon Sangma from Mendipathar joined the ruling Congress.
The UDP was reduced to 7 out of eight sitting MLAs with its former legislator from Mawkynrew constituency Remington Pyngrope joining the NPP.
The other independent MLAs who resigned include Saleng A Sangma, who joined the NCP, Hopeful Bamon from Sutnga-Saipung and Stephanson Mukhim from Amlarem, who both joined the NPP, Robinus Syngkon from Mookaiaw and Justine Dkhar from Khliehriat joined the BJP.
Meghalaya will go to polls on February 27 and the counting of votes will be held on March 3. The tenure of the current House will expire on March 6.
By Our Reporter
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