Five more sitting MLAs resign, joins UDP ahead of 2023 polls

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 18, 2023

Five more sitting legislators on Wednesday resigned as members of the 11th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Two suspended Congress legislators – PT Sawkmie (Mawlai) and Mayralborn Syiem (Nongpoh), HSPDP legislator and cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (Mawkyrwat), AITC legislator Shitlang Pale (Sutnga-Saipung) and Independent legislator (Nongkrem) – have submitted their resignation letters to the Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh at the Assembly Secretariat at Khyndai Lad here.

Altogether, eighteen legislators have so far resigned ahead of the elections.

“We have tendered our resignation letters to join the United Democratic Party (UDP),” Sawkmie told reporters.

Citing the reason for his decision to quit the Congress, the Mawlai MLA said, “If I remain with the Congress people will not vote for me as the prospect of the Congress nationally is very bad. Therefore, I chose UDP with high hope that together we can take up the issues of the Jaidbynriew.”

“I also represent a constituency which has hundred percent tribal population and have many NGOs and all are fighting for the cause of the indigenous community. So working together with the national parties it will be difficult as they have their own ideologies with national interest but they don’t bother much about our interest or the issue of the jaidbynriew.”

He also expressed confidence that the UDP will win more MLAs and will lead the new government.

Sawkmie further slammed the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) for its failure to address the various issues concerning the state.

“NPP has tried to touch some issues but there is no sincerity.

We saw the Harijan Colony issue. The NPP has also taken up the border issue but we see so much crying from the people as many areas have gone to Assam,” he said.

He also alleged that the NPP is not serious about the ILP.

“We have passed a resolution on ILP but there is no sincerity to follow up. NPP is not serious about the ILP. The Prime Minister and Home Minister were here in Shillong but they never spoke about ILP. This shows that they are not serious at all,” Sawkmie added.