SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday sought to dispel speculation over a possible shift of United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that any such political development would not affect the stability of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-II) government. His remarks came amid reports that as many as nine UDP MLAs could join the BJP, though UDP leaders have dismissed the reports as baseless.
“There is no impact on the government as such because we have majority as a party,” Sangma said, adding that the NPP was working closely with its coalition partners. He said he could not comment on internal issues between other political parties and maintained that any such development would not affect the MDA coalition.
“I cannot give any clarity beyond the media reports I Don’t have any further information,” Sangma said, stressing that the matter concerned two political parties other than the NPP. The UDP is a constituent of the NPP-led MDA-II government in Meghalaya.
On the possibility of a political realignment, Sangma said the government would respond only if such a development actually took place. “If and when it does happen, it’s something we have to see as per the situation,” he said, adding, “as of now we are completely discussing the dark, we are jumping to conclusion.”
Sangma said the government would assess the situation if and when it arose, cautioning against drawing conclusions based on speculation. “When the bridge comes we will cross,” he said, while reiterating that the reported political developments would not, at this stage, pose a threat to the stability of the MDA-II government.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday asserted that the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-II) government was stable and had the numbers to continue in office, with the National People’s Party (NPP) alone having 33 MLAs against the 30-31 required to form the government. He dismissed reports of a possible move by United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying he had seen the speculation only in newspapers and that regular coordination among MDA partners had prevented any disruption.
“We have regular MDA meetings. All partners speak to me, to the CM or to Sniawbhalang Dhar and we resolve issues. I do not see any problem,” Tynsong said.
He said the current buzz could be linked to internal differences within the UDP and maintained that the matter was internal to the party.
