Shillong, Oct 28 Meghalaya’s ruling NPP on Wednesday formally inducted two former UDP MLAs, Paul Lyngdoh and Renikton Lyngdoh, further consolidating its position in the assembly.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma welcomed the two legislators at the party headquarters, while Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong handed them their party membership certificates.
The third MLA, Mookaiaw legislator Nujorji Sungoh, could not attend the induction programme as he was unwell.
The three UDP legislators had sought to merge with the NPP amid a major political realignment in the state, days after eight other MLAs from the regional party joined the BJP.
Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma subsequently recognised the merger of the three legislators with the NPP as valid.
The successive mergers have significantly altered the composition of the assembly, with the UDP’s strength shrinking from 12 MLAs to one.
The merger of eight UDP legislators with the BJP increased the saffron party’s strength from two to 10, while the NPP’s tally rose from 33 to 36 in the 60-member House.
(PTI News)
