<p>Shillong: Meghalaya's lone Congress MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh joined the ruling National People's Party (NPP) on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Lyngdoh, who represents the Mylliem constituency, submitted a letter of merger to Speaker Thomas A Sangma.</p>.<p>He was accompanied by senior NPP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.</p>.<p>"Lyngdoh has formally joined the NPP today," Dhar said.</p>.PM Modi, Sitharaman term Meghalaya 'blueprint for resilient, self-reliant India'.<p>The Congress had won five seats in the 2023 assembly elections.</p>.<p>One of them, Saleng A Sangma, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tura seat, while three others joined the NPP last year.</p>.<p>MLAs Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning), Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin), and Charles Marngar (Mawhati) joined the NPP on August 19, 2024.</p>.<p>Their defection was subsequently recognised by the speaker under the provisions of the anti-defection law, as they constituted two-thirds of the party's strength in the House.</p>.<p>With Lyngdoh joining the NPP, the Congress does not have any representation in the 60-member assembly.</p>.<p>Following the merger, the NPP's strength in the assembly increased to 32, further solidifying its position at the helm of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.</p>
<p>Shillong: Meghalaya's lone Congress MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh joined the ruling National People's Party (NPP) on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Lyngdoh, who represents the Mylliem constituency, submitted a letter of merger to Speaker Thomas A Sangma.</p>.<p>He was accompanied by senior NPP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.</p>.<p>"Lyngdoh has formally joined the NPP today," Dhar said.</p>.PM Modi, Sitharaman term Meghalaya 'blueprint for resilient, self-reliant India'.<p>The Congress had won five seats in the 2023 assembly elections.</p>.<p>One of them, Saleng A Sangma, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tura seat, while three others joined the NPP last year.</p>.<p>MLAs Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning), Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin), and Charles Marngar (Mawhati) joined the NPP on August 19, 2024.</p>.<p>Their defection was subsequently recognised by the speaker under the provisions of the anti-defection law, as they constituted two-thirds of the party's strength in the House.</p>.<p>With Lyngdoh joining the NPP, the Congress does not have any representation in the 60-member assembly.</p>.<p>Following the merger, the NPP's strength in the assembly increased to 32, further solidifying its position at the helm of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.</p>