Shillong, Nov 2: Metbah Lyngdoh resigned from the cabinet not because of any pressure by the Chief Minister but on moral grounds after he became the last MLA standing from the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Lyngdoh saw all 11 of his UDP colleagues quit the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National People’s Party (NPP) in two waves, which left Lyngdoh the sole remaining MLA from the UDP.
Asked if Lyngdoh was made to resign, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today denied the suggestion. “To be very frank, sometimes in politics you don’t make decisions that are always pleasing or that you are happy about,” Sangma said. “Sometimes decisions are very tough… It is not that we want to take those decisions but things happen and in politics, and in governance, we need to take tough decisions.”
Still, there was no pressure put on Lyngdoh, the CM said. Instead, the UDP leader chose to resign from the cabinet on moral grounds and met Sangma in person to convey his reasons, which the CM accepted.
In Lyngdoh’s place, Paul Lyngdoh was sworn in today. Paul Lyngdoh is one of the defectors who left Metbah Lyngdoh high and dry in the UDP.
Paul Lyngdoh is one of three UDP legislators who joined the NPP. Sangma, who is the head honcho of the NPP, said that there is no party desire to wipe out or swallow up its allies but that the decision to join the NPP was taken by the MLAs as individuals. The public should even feel reassured by this, he added, as it demonstrates that there is long-term stability in the government.
