FIVE MEGHALAYA CONGRESS MLAS TO JOIN BJP ALLY

GUWAHATI: Eight legislators from Meghalaya, including five from the ruling Congress, resigned from the state assembly on Friday, apparently to join the National People’s Party (NPP), an ally of the Bjp-led NDA.

The resignations, which come ahead of assembly polls in February 2018, are a jolt to the ruling Congress government in the state led by Mukul Sangma. The strength of the Congress in the 60-member assembly has now depleted to 24. However, there is no immediate threat to Sangma’s government as it has the support of Independents and allies.

The legislators who gave up their assembly seats on Friday are Sniawbhalang Dhar, Comingone Ymbon, Prestone Tynsong, Rowell Lyngdoh and Ngaitlang Dhar of Congress, Remington Pyngrope from UDP and Independents Stephanson Mukhim and Hopeful Bamon.

“The MLAS submitted their resignations from the state assembly to Speaker Abu Taher Mondal...” Andrew Simons, commissioner and secretary of the state assembly, said.

All eight MLAS are slated to join the NPP at a rally in Shillong on January 4, party sources said.

An ally of the Nda-regime at Centre, the NPP is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Manipur and also one of the constituents of the Bjp-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). The BJP launched its poll campaign in the northeastern state earlier this month with a rally addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shillong.

There are no pre-poll tie-ups yet between the saffron outfit and any other regional party in Meghalaya. The move could be tactical in the predominantly Christian state where the BJP has drawn flak for its policy on cow slaughter.

THE RESIGNATIONS, WHICH COME AHEAD OF ASSEMBLY POLLS IN FEB 2018, ARE A JOLT TO THE RULING CONGRESS GOVT IN THE STATE