Shillong, Sep 23: Eight MLAs jumped ship. Government still stands. No tension.
That was Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s cool response, hours after eight UDP legislators ditched the party and wore the BJP lotus in Delhi on Wednesday.
“It is their decision. Nothing to do with NPP,” Conrad told reporters in Shillong, keeping it short and sharp.
“It’s the desire and decision of the MLAs. I have no comment,” he said.
Sangma’s math is simple – UDP and BJP are both in MDA. So, MLAs shifting from one MDA partner to another MDA partner doesn’t change the total. The headcount of the coalition remains the same.
“The strength of the coalition remains the same because it is very much within the coalition, so it does not disturb the overall functioning of our government,” he said.
No reshuffle? No panic? Sangma ruled out any immediate shake-up.
“I have already made it very clear, this will not affect anything,” he said.
Meanwhile, UDP is not taking it lying down.
Hours after the defection, the party cracked the whip and suspended three MLAs for anti-party activities. The message from UDP is loud and clear – defection may be Delhi’s game, but discipline is still Shillong’s call.
In other words – new jersey, same team for MDA. But for UDP, it’s clean-up time.
