In Meghalaya, the Congress has joined the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, more than two months after losing 12 MLAs. The Bharatiya Janata Party is a minor component of the alliance.
The remaining five Congress MLAs on February 8 met Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and handed over a letter to formally join the coalition government. The Chief Minister welcomed the MLAs into the alliance in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Preston Tynsong.
The letter signed by the five legislators read, “We would like to support you and the MDA to strengthen the arms and decision-making of the government, to ensure that our joint efforts will take the state forward in the common interest of its citizens.” ” , outlining his decision to join the government from 8 February.
Five MLAs M. Amparen Lyngdoh, PT Sawakmi, Myrlborn Siem, Kimpha S. There are Marbaniang and Mohendro Rapsang.
Congress Legislature Party leader Ms Lyngdoh defended the move. “In this day and age, you can only protect yourself. The five of us are protecting each other,” she said.
He also avoided questions about the Congress becoming an ally of the BJP on the grounds of joining the alliance.
“You can interpret everything the way you want. Who’s straight in politics in this generation? If everyone’s straight, we’ll be straight too. If everyone’s crooked, what can you do?” he said.
Ms Lyngdoh had earlier said that she would complete her term in Congress before taking any decision. “I’ll take a call at an appropriate time,” she said.
Along with Nagaland and Tripura, assembly elections in Meghalaya are to be held by February 2023.
The Congress had won 21 seats in the 2018 Assembly elections in Meghalaya, but its tally was reduced to 17, of which 12 joined the Trinamool Congress in November 2021.
Reacting to the development, a spokesperson of TMC’s Meghalaya unit said, “The dishonest and power-hungry people have officially joined hands. This alliance between the Congress and the NPP-led MDA has once again clearly marked us as the only credible alternative in Meghalaya.”
This is not the first time that the Congress and the BJP have come together directly or indirectly in the Northeast.
In 2015, all eight Congress MLAs from Nagaland supported the Naga People’s Front-led coalition government in the state. These MLAs, suspended by the party high command, later merged with the NPF.
In 2018, the Congress and the BJP formed an alliance to rule the Chakma Autonomous District Council in Mizoram. Their alliance was short-lived.
,