Ahead of the Gambegre bypolls, three Congress MLAs in Meghalaya are reportedly planning to join the National People’s Party NPP. The MLAs in question — Gabriel Wahlang, Charles Marngar, and Celestine Lyngdoh — are expected to make the switch to the NPP.
Sources have also indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might approach Tura MP Saleng A Sangma to join their ranks, as the Congress party in Meghalaya is reportedly losing its foothold, despite its recent electoral successes in the Garo Hills district.
Political analysts suggest that while Congress attempted to showcase a victory in the Lok Sabha elections, the results did not align with expectations. Many Congress supporters in the Garo Hills now feel disillusioned and are considering shifting their support to other parties.
In the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections of 2023, Congress won five seats, but this number has now dwindled to four following Saleng’s win in the Tura MP seat. With three MLAs set to join the NPP, Congress’s representation would be reduced to just one.
This shift in allegiance comes at a time when Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee or MPCC chief and former Shillong MP Vincent H Pala is in the United States.
The NPP currently holds 28 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. With the anticipated addition of three more MLAs, the NPP’s tally would increase to 31, securing an absolute majority.
