Northeast Desk, 12th August: Reports indicate that three Congress MLAs from Meghalaya—Gabriel Wahlang, Charles Marngar, and Celestine Lyngdoh—are preparing to switch allegiance to the National People’s Party (NPP) ahead of the Gambegre bypolls.
The potential move comes as Congress struggles to maintain its foothold in the state, despite recent successes in the Garo Hills district. The BJP is also reportedly considering extending an invitation to Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma to join its ranks, given Congress’s waning influence.
Political analysts suggest that while Congress attempted to highlight its victories in the Lok Sabha elections, the actual outcomes have led many supporters in Garo Hills to feel disillusioned and seek alternatives. Congress, which had won five seats in the 2023 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections, now has four seats following Sangma’s victory in the Tura MP seat. The defection of three MLAs to the NPP would further reduce Congress’s representation to just one.
This political shift is occurring while Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief and former Shillong MP Vincent H. Pala is in the United States.
The NPP, currently holding 28 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, would achieve an absolute majority of 31 seats with the addition of these three MLAs.
Read More: Meghalaya: BJP Vice President Claims Tura MP Saleng Sangma Sought Support in General Elections