By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 12: Former Nongkrem legislator Lambor Malngiang is set to join the National People’s Party (NPP) on Thursday, marking his official return to active politics.
Sources have revealed that the move is tactical considering the fact that Nongkrem is the bastion of sitting MLA and VPP supremo, Ardent Basaiawmoit
The formal induction ceremony will be held at the NPP office on Bivar Road, where he will be welcomed by NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister and State NPP president Prestone Tynsong, along with several senior party leaders.
Confirming the development, NPP state working president Hamletson Dohling said on Wednesday that the party expects around 600 leaders and supporters to join along with Malngiang during the ceremony.
“The discussion with Bah Lambor has been going on for quite some time.
We decided to welcome him into the party after he agreed to abide by the party’s ideology and principles,” Dohling said.
He added that Malngiang’s entry is part of the NPP’s broader effort to strengthen its base at the block level across the state.
When asked whether Malngiang’s joining signals his potential candidature from Nongkrem in the 2028 Assembly elections, Dohling said it was too early to make such assumptions, adding that the focus for now is on strengthening the party’s grassroots network.Party sources on Wednsday indicated that, along with Malngiang, a few other political leaders from different parties and constituencies are also expected to join the NPP during the event.
Malngiang first entered the political arena in 2003, when he won the Nongkrem Assembly seat on a KHNAM ticket. He later lost the 2008 Assembly Election to Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit who had contested from the UDP.
In 2013, Malngiang contested as a Congress candidate but was again defeated by Basaïawmoit, who represented the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) at the time.
He made a successful comeback in the 2018 Assembly Election, contesting as an Independent and defeating Basaiawmoit by 76 votes.
However, in the 2023 polls, VPP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit reclaimed the seat, defeating Malngiang — who contested on a UDP ticket — by a margin of 4,187 votes. The NPP had fielded Dasakhiatbha Lamare in that election, who secured 7,491 votes.
Earlier this year, Malngiang also contested the election to the KHADC as an Independent, but lost to Kitborlang Syiem of the Voice of the People Party (VPP).
