Shillong: In a significant political development, seasoned Mylliem MLA Ronnie V. Lyngdoh on Wednesday formally tendered his resignation from the Indian National Congress, delivering a fresh jolt to the grand old party’s dwindling footprint in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Lyngdoh personally presented his resignation papers to Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma. The occasion saw the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, former Mylliem legislator Hamelson Dohling, and prominent NPP leader Daniel M. Thangkhiew, underscoring the weight of the moment.
Immediately following his departure from the Congress, Lyngdoh confirmed his imminent move to the National People’s Party (NPP). This defection marks him as the fourth Congress MLA to cross over to the ruling party, following a trend set by Dr. Constantine Lyngdoh, Gabriel Wahlang, and Charles Marngar, who had recently merged with the NPP. With Lyngdoh’s official induction, the NPP’s strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will swell to 35 elected members, firmly cementing its position as the single largest party in the state.
This latest exodus of a veteran leader has particularly dire implications for the Indian National Congress in Meghalaya. The departure of all its sitting MLAs means the party now holds absolutely no representation in the state legislature, a historic nadir for a party that once held considerable sway in the state’s political landscape.
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