Shillong, Oct 23: The UDP has been left with just one MLA in the Assembly after Speaker Thomas A. Sangma approved the merger of its last three legislators with the ruling National People’s Party.
The Speaker, in his order today, recognised the merger of Paul Lyngdoh (West Shillong), Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (Mawkyrwat) and Nujorki Sungoh (Mowkaiaw) with the NPP under the Tenth Schedule.
The order noted that after eight UDP MLAs merged with the BJP on October 16, the UDP Legislature Party was left with only four members. On October 17, three of them wrote to the Speaker saying they constitute more than two-thirds of the legislature party and have resolved to merge with the NPP.
The Speaker placed the matter on October 19 and asked the members to personally verify. Two of them appeared on the same day and confirmed their decision to merge.
Satisfied that the decision was voluntary, the Speaker recognised the merger today and directed that the three MLAs be given seats as NPP members in the House.
