Shillong: National People’s Party (NPP), which leads the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) govt, has strengthened its position in the assembly after three United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators merged with it.NPP’s strength in the 60-member assembly has risen from 33 to 36. The party is led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma, who is also its national president.Assembly speaker Thomas A Sangma formally recognised the merger of the three UDP Legislature Party members with NPP under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.The MLAs who joined NPP are Paul Lyngdoh of 18-West Shillong, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar of 36-Mawkyrwat and Nujorki Sungoh of 4-Mowkaiaw.In an order issued on Friday, the speaker directed that the three legislators be allotted seats in the assembly as NPP members.The ruling alliance’s position has been further bolstered by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose strength has increased from two to 10. BJP became the second-largest party in the assembly after eight UDP legislators merged with it last month.The eight former UDP MLAs who joined BJP are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah.UDP, a constituent of the MDA, is now left with only one MLA — its president and cabinet minister, Metbah Lyngdoh.
