Danggo puts on hold move to resign from Congress

SHILLONG, JUNE 21: Five-time legislator from Ranikor Martin M Danggo today put on hold his move to resign from the opposition Congress party for “reasons best known to him”.

Danggo was supposed to tender his resignation at 5 pm before the deputy speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Timothy D Shira at the Assembly’s administrative block at Khyndailad on Thursday.

However, the senior Congress leader later put off his plan to resign.

“I just got a call from the home minister James K Sangma informing that the MLA (Danggo) will not be able to come,” Shira told reporters.

Asked, the deputy speaker said that his office was informed about Danggo’s intention to tender his resignation at around 12 pm in the afternoon.

“However, the reason is best known to him as to why he is not able to come,” Shira said.

The alleged “change of mind” also came following the cancellation of the cabinet meeting which was supposed to be held at 3pm 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, his (Danggo) joining the NPP will reduce the number of seats the Congress from 21 to 20 which will be 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