Mukul Sangma Says Cong MLAs Who Joined NPP Are Power Hungry, Raises Legal Question About Suspended MLAs’ Merger with NPP

Mukul Sangma, former Congress Chief Minister of Meghalaya who is now a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, has accused the three Congress MLAs who quit the party and joined ruling NPP of being power hungry and said that merger of suspended MLAs with any party is in violation of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Sangma, a 7-time MLA said, “I have serious legal concerns about this merger, particularly regarding the suspended status of MLAs Gabriel Wahlang and Charles Marngar. Under the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, suspended legislators do not have the legal standing to split and merge with another party. Suspended MLAs cannot sign off on decisions made by regular party members, which complicates the legitimacy of their merger with the NPP.”

Sangma who himself has defected from Congress in 2021 and joined TMC along with 11 other Congress MLAs said, “Unlike the recent defections (referring to the 3 Cong MLAs joining NPP), when 11 of us moved to join the TMC, it was driven by a genuine desire to offer an alternative political platform to the people of Meghalaya, not to secure power before the elections”.

Casting aspersions on the MLAs’ intentions for joining ruling NPP, Sangma said “The motives of the defecting MLAs appear questionable, as their decision to join the NPP seems rooted in desperation to be part of the ruling party. One can’t help but wonder if there were inducements that influenced their decision”.

Congress legislators — Gabriel Wahlang, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, and Charles Marngar — joined the NPP on August 19. Congress had suspended Margnar and Wahlang, on August 16 citing anti-party activities.

Sangma went on to say that the defections reflect the internal conflict plaguing the Congress party. He further underlined the need for smaller political parties to secure the commitment of their legislators to avoid such defections, which could have broader negative implications for the state’s governance and its people.

“These defections are a clear reflection of the internal conflict plaguing the Congress party. Smaller political parties must secure the commitment of their legislators to avoid such defections, which could have broader negative implications for the state’s governance and its people.”

Also Watch: 3 Cong MLAs’ Exit from Party Reflects Internal Conflicts Within the Party: Mukul Sangma