Shillong, Feb 8: In a major political development in the state that has given rise to a unique situation, the Congress party in Meghalaya has joined the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Meghalaya, submitted a formal letter of joining to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday which was signed by all the five MLAs of Congress – CLP leader Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mayralborn Syiem, Mohendro Rapsang, Kimfa Marbaniang and PT Sawkmie.In the letter, the legislators said they are formally joining the MDA to strengthen the government arms and decision making, to ensure that their joint efforts will take the state forward in the general interest of its citizens.

Following their meeting with the chief minister, CLP informed mediapersons that this decision was taken to ensure that they have each other’s back.

The new development has given Meghalaya a unique distinction wherein it has become the only state in the country presently that has both BJP and Congress in the ruling government.

Meghalaya Congress may have defied AICC

Interestingly, CLP leader Ampareen Lyngdoh did not directly answer if Tuesday’s move was done after consultation with the All India Congress Committee (AICC). She, however, hinted that their decision is at the state level and AICC isn’t aware of it as she mentioned that this decision is of strategic importance to ensure that their constituencies do not suffer.

She said they have the support of the public and being the elected representatives elected of their people, they need to take along the requirements and needs of the constituency.

“We are at juncture of politics where we have to make sure we cover each other’s backs. We are elected representatives elected by our respective constituencies and we take along the needs of the constituency and the requirements,” she said.

“We are the famous five elected MLAs and if you don’t respect the voice of the elected five MLAs what is the point of the party going forward. We are elected by our people and we have taken the authority by ourselves to ensure that we are in a strategic position to ensure that our constituencies do not suffer beyond the four year period of hardships that we have already felt and experienced,” Lyngdoh added.

The CLP in their meeting with the Chief Minister along with deputy chief minister also had other talks about the levels of the interstate border dispute with Assam.

Showing absolute confidence that Congress is 110% now part of the MDA government, Lyngdoh urged the people to respect their decision.

Non-committal on joining NPP

On the speculations that the Congress MLAs could switch over to the Conrad Sangma led National People’s Party (NPP) before the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly elections, Lyngdoh said, “Let’s leave it at that, the speculations will not reach us any way. We feel as elected representatives we have the right to do what we think is best for the five and that’s why we came to this decision. We hope the high command, the party, to listen to us, since we are the elected members and we are the ones going for election we are the one feeling the brunt of this confusion.”

On the question of Congress’ earlier attacks on calling NPP the team-B of BJP, Lyngdoh said now they know ‘who is who’. “You have seen the disclosures of politics in the state and we have got to know who is the B-team of who and C-team of who. Right now we’re protecting each other’s interest,” she said.

Mentionably, Congress was reduced to 5 members in Meghalaya after 12 MLAs merged with All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in November, 2021.