Shillong, Dec. 15: In a jolt to Meghalaya strongman P.A. Sangma, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split in the state today. Chief minister D.D. Lapang today scored over his arch political rival, the former Lok Sabha Speaker, by first breaking up the NCP and then inducting four of its members into the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition.
Led by Cyprian R. Sangma, six NCP legislators today announced their decision to break away from the NCP and form the Meghalaya Nationalist Congress Party (MNCP).
The split was announced by Speaker Martin Danggo on the first day of the winter session of the Assembly today.
Speaking to mediapersons later, Danggo said the party would be recognised.
Apart from Cyprian Sangma, the six legislators include Beckstar K. Sangma, Brening Sangma, Nidhuram Hajong, Samuel Sangma and former Speaker Elstone D. Marak. All six are from the Garo hills.
Four of the six defectors were also sworn in as Cabinet ministers at the Raj Bhavan later in the evening.
Soon after the swearing-in, the chief minister told mediapersons that he was not attempting to prove any point to Purno Sangma but only ?strengthening my party?. A smiling Lapang claimed that he had not engineered any split in the NCP ? rather, ?they have come on their own?.
With the inclusion of the six breakaway legislators in the MDA, the strength of the coalition has gone up to 49 in a 60-member House. The Opposition now has just nine NCP and two BJP legislators.
Asked if the six breakaway NCP legislators would merge with the Congress, he replied, ?Obviously. If they want to, why should I not include them? After all, they are senior legislators.?
Lapang said, ?The decision will have no impact on the coalition. We will remain together.? But rumours are already doing the rounds that as soon as the six MNCP legislators merge with the Congress, coalition partners like the United Democratic Party and the Meghalaya Democratic Party may be shown the door.
The UDP received the news of the split, followed by the induction of the four MLAs into the ministry, with stunned disbelief. UDP leader Donkupar Roy, who is also the deputy chief minister in the MDA, did not appear happy at all.
MNCP leader Cyprian Sangma said it was necessary to float the new party to ?serve the people better?. But NCP leaders Admiral Sangma and Ardhendhu Chaudhuri termed the developments ?unhealthy?.
?What can we do when people like Elstone Marak, who swore a couple of hours back to remain with Purno Sangma, changes colour? Not to talk of Hajong, who did not have enough money to contest the elections,? a miffed Admiral Sangma said.
The NCP leader said he would rush to New Delhi tomorrow to discuss the developments with Purno Sangma, who has been shocked by the crisis.