Shillong, Aug 19: The National People’s Party (NPP) is making preparations to welcome the Congress MLAs to its fold as sources have revealed that the MLAs will formally join NPP on Monday evening.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who is also the chief of NPP, has decided to cut short his tour of Garo Hills to be present at the ceremony in Shillong to welcome the Congress MLAs.

CM Sangma will inaugurate the Rongjeng Model College on Monday morning and will head for Shillong.

The political scene in the state has been on the boil for the past few weeks after reports emerged that Congress MLAs Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin), Charles Marngar (Mawhati), and Dr Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning) would be joining NPP.

With the lack of official word from any of the parties involved, it seems like this was just another political speculation. However, it caught wind again after Congress suspended Wahlang and Marngar for associating with MDA government and anti-party activities. However, Dr Celestine was spared because he attended the meeting called by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) to discuss the matter, last week.

This not only confirmed the speculations but confirmed that Wahlang and Marngar would be joining the NPP.

But a major concern is the application of anti-defection law which disqualifies members from the Legislative Assembly is they switch parties without 2/3rd majority.

Congress currently has 4 members in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. To avoid disqualification under anti-defection law, a 2/3rd or 70% majority is required, which comes to 3 MLAs. With the situation prior to August 16, 2024, when 3 legislators were but confirmed, there was nothing to fear; but now the situation has changed with only two legislators confirmed to switching allegiances.

What, however, is confirmed is that the formal joining will be on Monday evening, but how many are joining, that is still under wraps. The MLAs would have done their due diligence on this matter to avoid disqualification.

The Congress is also betting on reining in Dr Celestine to put the switch on hold, since the last thing any legislator wants is disqualification and seeking re-election.

But politics is a complex game where checkmates and feints are at play all the time. The true picture will only unravel on Monday evening.

Read: Indian Army renovates Mechuka school auditorium

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