SHILLONG, Feb 8: The state Congress on Tuesday officially extended its support to the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government, which has the BJP as one of its constituents.
The five remaining Congress MLAs submitted a letter to Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, offering their support to the MDA Government “in the greater interest of the people of their constituencies”.
The Congress MLAs had announced, on December 17 last year, that they will support the NPP-led government.
The development on Tuesday effectively puts the Congress and the BJP together in the government in what is only the second such instance in the country.
In 2015, Congress MLAs had joined the Naga People’s Front-led coalition government in Nagaland where the BJP was an entity.
With the five Congress MLAs now supporting the government, the All India Trinamool Congress — with 12 MLAs — is now officially the only opposition party in Meghalaya.
The five MLAs — Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mohendro Rapsang, Process T Sawkmie, Mayralborn Syiem and Kimfa S Marbaniang — submitted their letter of support to the chief minister, expressing their desire to work with the NPP-led MDA Government.
“We, the undersigned MLAs of the Indian National Congress, have decided to join the MDA (Meghalaya Democratic Alliance) government today the 8th of February, 2022. We wish to support you and the MDA to strengthen the government’s arms and decision-making so as to ensure that our joined efforts will take the state forward, in the general interest of its citizens,” the letter stated.
“We are happy to welcome members of the Congress Legislature Party who have pledged their support to the MDA Government officially today. We will work together under the banner of MDA to strengthen the Government in the interest of the people & the State,” the chief minister tweeted.
Speaking to media persons after meeting the chief minister, Congress Legislature Party leader Ampareen Lyngdoh said, “We have unanimously decided to join the government and have given the letter of support to the Chief Minister.”
Asked to comment on their decision, Lyngdoh said, “We are now only five and we are making sure that we cover each other.”
She made it clear that all of them were still with the Congress and had not quit the party.
Stating that the interest of the state and the people of their constituency was of paramount importance, Lyngdoh made a veiled attack on the Congress party, saying, “If you don’t respect the voice of the five elected MLAs, what is the point of the party going anywhere forward?”
She said that they took the decision themselves to ensure that they maintain a strategic position so as to ensure that their constituencies do not suffer any longer than the four years of hardship they have already faced.
Asserting that the five MLAs have a right to do what is best for their constituencies, Lyngdoh said they expect the party high command to listen to them since they are the elected members and they are the ones who will be seeking reelection.
Asked if their decision to support the MDA had been approved by the All India Congress Committee, Lyngdoh pointed out that they had written several letters to the party high command but there had been no response.
“They neither responded positively nor opposed our move. We assumed that they are either considering us insignificant or they are in agreement with us,” she added.
Asked how the Congress and BJP would work together in the alliance, Lyngdoh admitted they had no idea. The CLP has gone to the MDA to seek justice for their constituencies, she added.
“We have been out of the government for four years. We want this government to give due attention to our constituencies,” Lyngdoh said.
Tuesday’s development comes less than three months after the merger of 12 Congress MLAs with the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), reducing the party’s strength in the Assembly from 17 to single-digit figure.