SHILLONG, JUNE 21: In a blow to the opposition Congress, five-time legislator from Ranikor Martin M Danggo has finally quit the party to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
Danggo, a senior Congress leader, tendered his resignation as an MLA before the Assembly’s deputy speaker Timothy D Shira in absence of the Speaker Donkupar Roy here on Thursday.
This also came after three months of him being re-elected as legislator of the Ranikor constituency during the Assembly elections held earlier this year.
Confirming this, Home Minister James K Sangma said, “I have spoken to the deputy speaker and he told me that Danggo has officially submitted his resignation letter and it was accordingly accepted.”
Earlier, the deputy speaker informed that he was told that Danggo had put on hold his move to resign.
“I just got a call from the home minister informing that the MLA (Danggo) will not be able to come,” Shira told reporters earlier today.
Danggo was supposed to tender his resignation at 5 pm before the deputy speaker at the Assembly’s administrative block at Khyndailad.
It was also alleged that the decision of Danggo to postpone his move also came following the cancellation of the cabinet meeting which was supposed to be held at3pm as the chief minister Conrad K Sangma was not keeping well.
Sources informed that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government had proposed to take up the issue related to the creation of the Ranikor civil sub-division in the cabinet today.
Danggo had earlier announced that he would put in his papers to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) after the chief minister Conrad K Sangma announced that the Ranikor administrative unit will be upgraded to a civil sub-division during a public meeting held at Ranikor on June 12.
He however, said that he will officially join the party once the government lays the foundation stone for the sub-division.
“I am thankful to the Chief Minister for his assurance to accept our memorandum and demands. I assure him that I will resign from Congress party as and when the date for the inauguration of the new Civil Sub-Division is made by the Chief Minister,” Danggo had stated.
Meanwhile with his (Danggo) decision to leave the party, the opposition Congress has been reduced from 21 to 20 which is at par with the ruling NPP.
The NPP led MDA is a six party coalition government. The NPP has 20 MLAs, UDP has 7, People’s Democratic Front has 4, two each of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party.
The NCP, having one MLA and two Independents are also supporting the government.
By Our Reporter
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