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Congress’ 5 remaining MLAs in Meghalaya pledge support to BJP-backed govt for ‘citizens’ sake’

CM Conrad Sangma of the NPP welcomed the 5 leaders in a tweet Tuesday, saying they'll work together under the banner of Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.

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Guwahati: All five Congress MLAs in Meghalaya the only ones remaining after 12 others defected to the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) last year decided to join the BJP-backed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in the state Tuesday, in “the general interest of its citizens”. 

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mohendro Rapsang, Mayralborn Syiem, Kimfa Marbaniang and P.T. Sawkmie submitted a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, informing him of their decision.

“We the undersigned MLAs of the Indian National Congress have decided to join the MDA government today… We wish to support you and the MDA to strengthen the government’s arms and decision-making, so as to ensure that our joined efforts will take the state forward, in the general interest of its citizens,” the letter said.

CLP leader Ampareen Lyngdoh told local media that the MLAs are “at a juncture of politics” where they have to make sure they “cover each other’s backs”. 

“We are elected representatives from our respective constituencies and we take along the needs of the constituency and the requirement,” she added.

Sangma welcomed the leaders in a tweet Tuesday. “We will work together under the banner of MDA to strengthen the Government in the interest of the people & the State,” he said.

ThePrint sought a comment on the MLAs’ decision from state Congress president Vincent Pala via phone and email, but didn’t receive a response. This report will be updated when a response is received. 

Congress’ decline in Meghalaya

In the 2018 Meghalaya assembly polls, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party with 21 out of a total 60 seats. However, ultimately, Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP), which had won 20 seats, formed a coalition with the United Democratic Party (UDP), the People’s Democratic Front, the BJP, the Hill State People’s Democratic Party, and two Independents. 

The Congress’ number eventually dwindled to 17, after the resignation of an MLA and subsequent bypolls following the deaths of a few of the party’s legislators.

Led by former chief minister Mukul Sangma, 12 Congress legislators’ move to the Trinamool Congress last November, dealing a big blow to the party. In an interview to ThePrint, Mukul Sangma, a two-time CM and former Congress chief in Meghalaya, had said that the party had “lost its drive to fight and win” an electoral battle in the state, and had “failed to optimise the potential of its leaders”.

(Edited by Gitanjali Das)

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