Shillong (Meghalaya), March 19: A contentious political saga in Meghalaya is heading to the High Court, with the Congress party alleging that four of its MLAs defected to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in a bid to destabilize the opposition.
The case revolves around Charles Marngar, Gabriel Wahlang, Celestine Lyngdoh, and Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, who allegedly switched allegiance in August 2024, claiming a “merger” of the Congress legislature party without obtaining approval from the parent party.
Congress leader Manuel Badwar has filed a writ petition challenging the Speaker’s dismissal of disqualification petitions against the MLAs, citing “hyper-technical and procedural grounds” as the reason. The petitions were initially dismissed in October 2025, prompting the Congress to approach the High Court.
The Speaker’s interpretation that only an MLA can file a disqualification petition has been contested by the petitioner, citing Supreme Court precedents that allow “any interested person” to invoke the Speaker’s jurisdiction.
The controversy has sparked concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and the misuse of anti-defection laws. The Congress alleges that the Speaker’s actions have allowed the MLAs to evade scrutiny, undermining the constitutional mandate of the Tenth Schedule.
The High Court has granted liberty for personal service on respondents, paving the way for a full-fledged hearing on the matter.
