National People’s Party (NPP) national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is thrilled at the joining of three Congress Party MLAs to the NPP fold.
Speaking to reporters after the joining ceremony of Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, Charles Marngar and Gabriel Wahlang, Sangma said, “It gives me a lot of sense of hope for the future of our party and our state.”
In an ebullient post on social media, the CM said, “What a day it has been!! So happy and delighted to welcome 3 MLAs from Congress to the National Peoples’ Party. The induction of the Congress MLAs to our party is a true demonstration of faith in our government. The merger of Congress MLAs to NPP has increased our strength to 31 in 60 member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. We are now full majority. Cheers to all our supporters and well wishers.”
On comments made by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H Pala that the NPP is desperate to buy support with “illegal” money, Sangma declined to comment on “derogatory” remarks, instead preferring to take the high road.
“For whatever reasons he made those comments and that’s fine but this particular understanding (with the three defectors) has been reached purely on the basis of developmental aspects for their constituencies,” Sangma said, adding that Pala’s accusations are completely untrue.
He also insisted that the MLAs did not join for personal gain and there was no discussion to reward them personally or any conditions laid down by them.
“We will, of course, in the future work on how we can utilise their expertise, experience, knowledge, capacity for the overall benefit of the state as well as of the party,” Sangma added.
