Shillong: Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Monday said he would seek a fresh legal opinion before deciding on the merger of three United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs with the National People’s Party (NPP), stating that the process would not be a mere formality despite his earlier recognition of the merger of eight UDP MLAs with the BJP.
The three legislators, Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh, submitted their merger letter to the Speaker along with the resolutions adopted in this regard. However, Sungoh was not present during the meeting due to medical reasons.
The MLAs were accompanied by NPP state president and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla and supporters of Paul Lyngdoh and Tongkhar.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said he had received the application but was yet to take a decision, as he needed to examine the matter and seek legal advice.
“Some people may feel that since I have already recognised the merger of eight MLAs earlier, this will be just a formality. But it is not like that,” he said, adding that he would follow the prescribed procedure before issuing his ruling.
Sangma said only Paul Lyngdoh and Tongkhar appeared before him on Monday, while Sungoh was away for medical treatment. He said he would need to verify whether each legislator had agreed to the merger voluntarily.
The Speaker added that he would seek legal opinion on whether Sungoh’s consent could be verified online or whether his physical presence would be necessary. He said he expected to communicate his decision within a few days.
Meanwhile, Tynsong said the NPP’s strength in the Assembly would increase from 33 to 36 MLAs if the merger was recognised, but maintained that the decision rested with the Speaker.
“We leave it to the wisdom of the Speaker. We are looking forward to the Speaker giving us the good news that the three MLAs will be part of the NPP,” he said.
Asked whether the three legislators should receive greater representation in the Cabinet following the party’s increased strength, Tynsong said the decision to join the NPP was not driven by the prospect of ministerial berths.
He said the three MLAs believed the NPP offered a suitable platform to strengthen governance in Meghalaya, adding that there were no preconditions attached to their joining.
Paul Lyngdoh said the decision was collective and unconditional, and had nothing to do with personal differences with UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh.
“There were no conditions put forward. It was an unconditional joining of the NPP. The three of us took a collective decision, and we saw that the NPP provides the best possible platform for the kind of service we would like to deliver to the state,” he said.
On the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle, Lyngdoh said the decision rested with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Tongkhar, meanwhile, said the performance of the MDA-I and MDA-II governments had influenced his decision to join the NPP. He said he had consulted the people of his constituency, Mawkyrwat, before taking the decision and claimed that a large number of his supporters had also joined the party.
He said efforts to unite regional parties under the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) had failed, leaving the NPP as the most viable platform to strengthen their political presence.
“If we really want to strengthen our political party, which is the party led by our people, the only scope and chance is the NPP,” Tongkhar said, describing it as a nationally recognised party led by people from the region.
The merger application comes amid a major political realignment in Meghalaya, with the NPP poised to increase its Assembly strength from 33 to 36 MLAs, subject to the Speaker’s decision.
Meanwhile, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh on Monday expelled the three MLAs from the party’s primary membership, with immediate effect from October 19. In his expulsion letter, Metbah cited reports that the three MLAs would be joining the NPP, stating that the decision was taken under the powers vested in him as UDP president.
Also Read | Manipur: Naga bodies seek revocation of Kamjong SP’s transfer order