By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 1: Buoyed after Congress’s wipe-out from the state Assembly, the National People’s Party (NPP) has expressed its desire to see all 60 MLAs join its ranks.
Speaking to media persons on Friday, NPP state president and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said there is no harm if all 60 legislators become part of the NPP.
“We are not here to break any party, but we have enough room in the NPP to accommodate all 60 MLAs,” he said, adding that the absence of an opposition in Meghalaya would mark a historic moment.
“The doors of the NPP are still open, and if all 60 join us, the more the merrier,” he remarked. “The only precondition for joining the NPP is development.”
Urging the Congress to introspect and undertake major reforms following its complete ouster from the Assembly, Tynsong said it wasn’t Ronnie V Lyngdoh who chose to join the NPP, but rather the voters who wanted him to do so — because they wanted development, which is taking place across various parts of the state.
‘Cong needs deep introspection’
Former Congress MLA Mayralborn Syiem has described the Congress party’s total exit from the Assembly as a moment demanding deep introspection.
Syiem, now with the UDP, refrained from commenting directly on the Congress leadership but maintained that any political organisation facing such a steep fall must reflect on both internal issues and local dynamics.
He acknowledged that the Congress, once a dominant political force in Meghalaya, must now evaluate how far it has drifted from its former standing.
Describing the evolution of political parties as part of a healthy democratic cycle, Syiem noted that shifts in party allegiance are often driven by the desire to better serve public interests. He added that legislators act in accordance with the will of their constituents and larger public mandates.
Now committed to his role under the UDP banner, Syiem stressed that his responsibility remains to the people he represents. He extended goodwill to fellow legislators, regardless of political affiliation, while reiterating the importance of parties staying grounded in their original purpose.
Mylliem Block Cong feels betrayed
The Mylliem Block Congress Committee (MBCC) has expressed surprise and disappointment over Ronnie V Lyngdoh’s decision to join the NPP. Lyngdoh is the former MLA of Mylliem.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, MBCC leader Banphiralang Basaiawmoit said even the residents of the constituency were shocked by Lyngdoh’s move. “We were not consulted, and neither were the over 9,000 voters who supported him in the 2023 Assembly elections,” Basaiawmoit, who is also the vice president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC), said.
He stated that the Congress workers and supporters had campaigned tirelessly for Lyngdoh and now feel betrayed. “I owe an apology to the people of the constituency for having been at the forefront to campaign for Lyngdoh’s,” he added.
Basaiawmoit said the decision was unexpected, particularly because Lyngdoh had previously resisted joining other parties, despite allegedly being offered Rs 10 to 15 crore.
“I used to admire him for standing by the party’s ideology and principles. What made him change his mind remains unclear,” the MBCC leader, who had unsuccessfully contested the MDC elections from Mylliem, said.
While admitting that the Congress in Mylliem is going through a difficult phase following the exit of its only MLA, Basaiawmoit expressed confidence that the party would recover. “We may be down now, but we will bounce back,” he said.
He went on to describe Lyngdoh’s defection as a move driven by political convenience rather than conviction.
Referring to the recent arrest of nuns in Chhattisgarh, the MBCC leader asked if former Congress leaders, who have now aligned with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally NPP, will have the courage to speak out against injustices, especially those targeting minorities.
With Lyngdoh’s defection, all four Congress MLAs elected in the 2023 Assembly polls have now joined the NPP.
The others include Charles Marngar (Mawhati), Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin), and Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning), who made the switch in August 2024.
The departure of Lyngdoh marks the end of an era for the Congress in Meghalaya. Once deeply embedded in the state’s political framework, the party is now faced with rebuilding its presence amid the growing influence of regional and coalition-driven politics.