Huge jolt to Meghalaya Congress as MLA resigns, loses single largest party status

The Congress party which was in Opposition in Meghalaya has received a huge jolt as MLA Martin M Danggo has resigned. It has effectively left the Congress strength to 20, equal to that of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), which is running a coalition government in the north-eastern state with the BJP and some regional parties. The election for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly was held in February last.

Danggo submitted his resignation to Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira in the absence of Speaker Donkupar Roy late last night. “I hereby tender my resignation of my seat in the assembly from Ranikor (ST) assembly constituency with effect from June 21, 2018,” he said in his resignation letter.

He also intimated state Congress president of his decision to resign as the MLA as well from the primary membership of the party. Danggo avoided the media during the day and did not come to the Assembly Secretariat even after 5 pm. Even the Deputy Speaker had told reporters in the Assembly Secretariat premises at around 5.30 pm that Danggo has put on hold his decision to resign as MLA.
Interestingly, it was the Home Minister James K Sangma who confirmed Danggo’s resignation.

“I spoke to the Deputy Speaker and he told me that Danggo has officially submitted his resignation letter and the same was accepted accordingly,” the Home Minister claimed. Neither the Deputy Speaker nor Danggo could be contacted for an official statement.

The resignation of Danggo has again reduced the number of Congress MLAs in the 60-member Assembly from 21 to 20 members. Danggo is set to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) which now has 20 MLAs in the Assembly.