The opposition Congress Party has maintained that it is yet to receive any official communication from the Assembly Speaker’s office on the disqualification petition against three former party MLAs.
The Congress had challenged how Umsning MLA Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, Nongstoin MLA Gabriel Wahlang and Mawhati MLA Charles Marngar could have joined the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) after it had suspended Wahlang and Marngar. Technically the three did not defect but merged the Congress parliamentary party with the NPP. Since the trio made up 75 percent of the Congress’s strength in the Assembly, this was ostensibly proper. However, the Congress Party argues that suspended members cannot effect such a merger. So far, though, its argument has been rejected by the Assembly Speaker (who is an NPP member) and the Congress is now set to take the matter to the courts.
“We have not received any official decision from him (the Speaker Thomas Sangma). It has not been communicated to us,” said Congress MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh.
Sangma said that he had consulted with the state’s Advocate General before taking the decision to dismiss the disqualification petitions against the three MLAs.
“I gave my ruling but they are appealing again. After consultation, my ruling was found valid. I am standing my ground,” Sangma had said.
However, the Congress camp is poised to move the Meghalaya High Court seeking the disqualification of three former Congress MLAs.
The party’s legal team is currently in consultation with legal experts in New Delhi.
