Shillong (Meghalaya), July 30: State’s lone Congress MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh has joined the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), marking the end of the Congress party’s presence in the state assembly. Lyngdoh submitted a letter of merger to Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma in the presence of senior NPP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
The Speaker accepted Lyngdoh’s merger letter, recognizing him as an NPP MLA with immediate effect, increasing the NPP’s strength in the 60-member Assembly to 32. This move solidifies the NPP’s control over the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.
The Congress party had initially secured five seats in the 2023 assembly elections but lost four MLAs earlier – three defected to the NPP in August 2024, and one resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha. With Lyngdoh’s defection, Meghalaya becomes the third northeastern state, after Nagaland and Sikkim, without a single Congress legislator.
The Congress party has strongly condemned Lyngdoh’s decision, accusing the NPP of engineering defections through corruption and loot. AICC Joint Secretary Mathew Antony likened Lyngdoh’s defection to the “biblical betrayal by Judas”, saying, “Same as with our 3 +1 MLAs who committed their loyalty to win as MLAs with the hand symbol of the Congress party and then to betray us for the silver coins offered to them.”
Antony urged the people to question the sudden wealth and luxury lifestyles of NPP Ministers and MLAs, asking, “What is the source of their sudden income?” Despite Lyngdoh’s defection, the Congress party remains committed to its fight against corruption and promises to continue working for the people of Meghalaya.
“Congress was there before these MLAs and we will be there stronger with new leaders inducted into the party in the coming days,” Antony said, emphasizing the party’s commitment to saving the state from corruption and loot. The Congress party plans to induct new leaders and strengthen its presence in Meghalaya, despite losing its sole MLA in the assembly. Lyngdoh cited the need for “stability and development” in his constituency as the reason for his decision to join the NPP.
