Shillong, Aug 28: The Congress has filed a fresh petition before the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly seeking disqualification of its four MLAs who joined the National People’s Party (NPP).
The petition was filed by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Secretary Manuel Badwar to Assembly Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons on behalf of the Speaker.
Speaking to reporters, Badwar said the fresh petition was filed after the earlier petition filed by its MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh, who also joined the NPP, became “infructuous”.
Lyngdoh had sought the disqualification of three legislators—Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, Charles Marngar, and Gabriel Wahlang—under the anti-defection law when they joined the NPP in August, 2024.
However, he himself joined the ruling NPP on July 30 this year and announced that the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the Meghalaya High Court of Meghalaya seeking the disqualification of the three MLAs is officially withdrawn.
Badwar stated that the MLAs’ switch did not meet the two-thirds requirement under the anti-defection law. “Two MLAs left first, and the third followed only 48 hours later. That clearly doesn’t qualify as 66 per cent. It’s against the Constitution, and we cannot let such practices pass,” he said.
He stressed that the petition was not an act of personal vengeance but a fight to uphold democratic values. “We’re doing this not for the Congress as a party but for the public, for the Constitution, and for those who voted for us. Our MLAs should not take people for a ride,” Badwar asserted.
When asked about the possible outcome if the Speaker rules against the petition, Badwar said the party was confident of its case. “We don’t foresee that the Speaker will go against the weight of this appeal. But if that happens, we will take the fight to the High Court,” he said.
“Democracy is at risk, and it is important to show people that the Constitution must prevail,” the Congress Secretary said.
The Congress had won five seats in the 2023 assembly elections but reduced to zero representation in the 60-member state assembly. One of them, Saleng A Sangma, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tura seat in 2024.
