SHILLONG, Jan 5: Three more MLAs – Hamletson Dohling, Jason S Mawlong (both from People’s Democratic Front) and Samlin Malngiang (Hill State People’s Democratic Party) – resigned from the Assembly on Thursday.
The trio, who submitted their resignation to Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, will join the National People’s Party (NPP).
After tendering their resignation, they told reporters their supporters and core committees had advised them to join the NPP.
So far, 11 MLAs have resigned from the Assembly. Earlier, Benedic R Marak, Ferlin CA Sangma, Himalaya S Shangpliang, Samuel Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mohendro Rapsang, Kimfa S Marbaniang and SG Esmatur Mominin had quit as MLAs.
After the spate of resignation, the NPP now has 20 MLAs, Trinamool Congress 11; United Democratic Party (UDP) eight; BJP, PDF, Congress and Independents two each; and HSPDP, NCP and KHNAM one each.
More MLAs are likely to resign and join other political parties ahead of Assembly elections, expected next month.
Suspended Congress MLAs Process T Sawkmie and Mayralborn Syiem will join the UDP while KHNAM’s Adelbert Nongrum is set to contest the polls from the newly-floated Voice of the People Party.
Shifting political allegiance by the MLAs to other parties ahead of Assembly elections seems to have become a trend in Meghalaya. It happened in the lead up to the 2018 polls as well.
