Shillong, Aug 5: Former Congress Party MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh formally joined the National People’s Party (NPP) here today.
The induction ceremony took place at the Chief Minister’s official residence where Lyngdoh was welcomed by CM and NPP national president Conrad K Sangma.
Lyngdoh, who represents Mylliem constituency, confirmed that all formalities regarding his induction had been completed and acknowledged that the Speaker had officially recognised the shift. He had been the last remaining Congress MLA in the Assembly and therefore no question of the anti-defection law being applied to him.
Lyngdoh revealed that there has been some confusion from members of the public regarding his joining the NPP but claimed that the majority of his constituents are in favour of the move.
“It was only after extensively touring the constituency, meeting elders, youth and listening to their aspirations that the clarity (on leaving the Congress) emerged,” Lyngdoh explained. “The decision to join the NPP was neither sudden nor opportunistic. I had been waiting for the right moment and the final push came from the people of Mylliem themselves.”
Sangma addressed the gathering, saying, “In politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends, only a permanent commitment to the people, the state and the nation.”
He acknowledged that Lyngdoh’s decision signalled a significant shift not just in the Mylliem constituency but also within the Assembly at large where the NPP has further extended its hold; it has an outright majority in the 60-member house and does not need its alliance partners, though it is persisting with them for the time being. Sangma extended his gratitude to former Mylliem MLA Hamletson Dohling, who Lyngdoh beat in the 2023 election, for his acceptance of Lyngdoh’s induction into the NPP.
