Meghalaya CM welcomes 3 UDP legislators into NPP fold

SHILLONG, OCT 28 (NPN): Three sitting United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators were formally inducted into the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in Meghalaya on Wednesday.
Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad Sangma welcomed two UDP legislators, Paul Lyngdoh and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, into the NPP fold at an induction ceremony held at the party headquarters.
Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar besides several senior NPP leaders were present on the occasion
Nujorki Sungoh, the third former UDP legislator, could not attend the induction programme due to ill health, but his supporters from his Mokaiaw assembly constituency joined the NPP. With this, the number of NPP MLAs has risen to 36 in the 60-member Assembly.
The UDP, which was the second-largest party in the state until September 22, has been reduced to one, leaving UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh as its lone legislator. On September 23, eight UDP legislators joined the BJP, expanding its strength from two to ten and making it the second-largest party in the assembly.
Welcoming the three UDP legislators and their supporters into the NPP family, Sangma said, “Together, may we uphold the values of the party, strengthen our collective mission and continue working towards the progress, prosperity and a brighter future for the people of Meghalaya.”
On October 16, Assembly Speaker Thomas Sangma formally recognised the merger of the three UDP legislators with the NPP.
The Speaker recognised the merger under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.