Shillong, May 6: The MLAs of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) formally joined the National People’s Party (NPP) here on Saturday at an impressive function at the NPP headquarters in Shillong.
NPP national president and Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K. Sangma was present at the historic occasion along with his party colleagues NPP vice president and Dy CM Prestone Tyngsong, Dy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar, Cabinet Minister Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Cabinet Minister Comingone Ymbon, Cabinet Minister Marcuies Marak and other NPP leaders and functionaries.
PDF has two MLAs – Banteidor Lyngdoh (Mawkynrew) and Gavin M Mylliem (Sohra).
Addressing the occasion, NPP vice president and Deputy CM, Prestone Tynsong said the agreement signed today should be taken seriously as a “marriage agreement”. He said, “As a marriage agreement we should not part ways just 2-3 months or 1-2 years but ‘till death do us apart’.”
Welcoming the legislators to the party, NPP chief Conrad K. Sangma took the cue from the Dy CM Tynsong and said even though the marriage is today but they (NPP and PDF) have been romancing for a very long time.
He said the discussion on the merger was held a long time ago but the two MLAs have taken time to discuss and bring their supporters on board as well, which is a good decision.
He also assured that the merger document was already looked and read at properly, and that the government will work on the demands.
On joining NPP, former sports minister and PDF legislator from Mawkynrew, Banteidor Lyngdoh, remarked, “There is no permanent friend of enemy in politics”.
Banteidor said this day is a historic day as he feels like it is his weddings day!
He, however, emphasised that the merger is not for their personal goals but for the interest of their people. “We merged with the NPP not of our personal interests but for the benefit of our people,” Banteidor said.
A merger document was also signed by the two parties, which contains 11 agendas. Some of the agendas include: proper implementation of the roster system taking into consideration the sentiments of the people, farmers plight, power crisis, ILP among others.
PDF president and Sohra legislator Gavin Mylliem said the decision to merge is a result of working under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and the MDA government, which has convinced them of a ‘better Meghalaya’ under him.
“Because it is his (CM) leadership that we see a vision for a better Meghalaya… People may have accused of many things, but after discussing with our supporters, we have taken the right decision,” asserted Mylliem.
However, PDF General Secretary Auspicious Lyngdoh Mawphlang stressed that the PDF is still alive and has not been dissolved.
