Shillong, Oct 16: West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has said he is keeping his options open on his political future, stating that the next course of action will depend on the Speaker’s decision on the petition concerning eight MLAs who left the UDP for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Lyngdoh said he had received feelers from both the National People’s Party (NPP) and BJP and was examining them, but would wait for the Speaker’s ruling before taking a final call.
The NPP, UDP and BJP are all members of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance coalition government. The NPP is the biggest while the UDP was the second-largest until the mass defection led to the BJP now assuming that role. However, the Speaker of the Assembly, Thomas A Sangma, is still examining the legality of the defection (ostensibly a merger of the UDP parliamentary party with the BJP).
“There have been feelers from both camps. I am examining each of those very closely and, based on what happens to the subsequent order that will be passed by the Speaker, I will then know the latest position,” Lyngdoh said today.
The UDP has approached the Speaker over the move by eight of its 12 MLAs to join the BJP, with the decision expected to determine the party’s strength in the Assembly and the political options available to the remaining four legislators.
Lyngdoh said if the Speaker does not recognise the split, the UDP would continue to have 12 MLAs. If the split is recognised, the party would be left with four legislators, who would then have to decide whether to remain in the UDP or explore other options.
He also ruled out making a decision based merely on political inclinations, pointing out that any move would have to comply with the anti-defection provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
Lyngdoh added that his constituency leaders and party workers had left the final decision to him, saying they would respect his choice regardless of the political party he eventually joined.
