Is Umsning MLA Celestine Lyngdoh staying in Congress? This is a question that many people are asking.
Recently there were several media reports that Lyngdoh along with Mawhati MLA Charles Marngar and Nongstoin MLA Gabriel Wahlang are planning to join the ruling NPP.
On August 16, the State Congress leadership asked the trio to attend a meeting of the party to explain about the media reports.
However, only Lyngdoh turned up at the meeting to explain that he was promised a lot of developmental schemes for his constituency.
The Congress party immediately suspended the membership of Marngar and Wahlang for six years.
Sources said that Lyngdoh is keeping a wait and watch and may make a switch at any moment.
If the three MLAs decide to merge with the NPP, they would not attract disqualification of the Assembly membership under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The strength of Congress party in the Assembly has been reduced to four after Gambegre MLA Saleng Sangma resigned following his election to the Lok Sabha from Tura parliamentary seat.
With Marngar and Wahlang suspended from the Congress and Lyngdoh likely to leave, sources said that the three MLAs may join the NPP just before the Gambegre by-election. The NPP wanted to use their joining as a morale booster for the by-election.
In that event, the Congress would be left with only one MLA Ronnie V. Lyngdoh who is also the leader of opposition in the House.
