TURA, March 5: What started out with much fanfare has ended in a whimper.
After three days of unprecedented political turmoil into formation of a new government in the state with the backbenchers in the political equation suddenly raising their opposition to the NPP-BJP alliance and seeking a Khasi chief minister, the situation has taken a dramatic turnaround on Sunday evening with the naysayers (read Mukul Sangma and his fledging 4 TMC MLAs) finally forced to eat the humble pie after their biggest supporters from the UDP pulling the rug from under his feet and deciding to with the Conrad K Sangma led government.
The UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh, who holds the switch to 10 legislators under his belt, along with the PDF’s two legislators have decided to extend their support to the formation of a new government by Conrad K Sangma as the chief minister for a second stint.
With the UDP’s 11 members and PDF’s two MLAs extending support, Conrad Sangma now has a powerful number of 45 in a current house of 59 MLAs.
The sudden announcement and meeting between the UDP-PDF delegation with the chief minister has finally ended the suspense and tense situation that had been plaguing the state after both parties jumped into the Mukul Sangma led TMC boat to oppose the NPP-BJP alliance despite the latter, in this case the NPP with 26 MLAs, having a clear mandate from the people of the state and support of 6 other legislators to shore up their numbers to a clear 32.
“I on behalf of the Parliamentary Party of the United Democratic Party hereby extend support for government formation,” stated UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh in his letter to Conrad Sangma.
This was followed by a similar letter of support given by the two MLAs of the People’s democratic Front (PDF) Gavin M Mylliem, MLA of Sohra constituency and party president along with Banteidor Lyngdoh, MLA of Mawkynrew constituency and working president of PDF to the NPP chief.
TMC-Cong-VPP left in the lurch
The high political drama that began with much fanfare after Trinamool Congress leaders Mukul Sangma and Charles Pyngrope gave bold statements to the media saying “We have the numbers” has finally ended with a squeak, not a roar.
Despite having just 5 MLAs amongst them, the Trinamool duo had backed the UDP with 11 MLAs alongside the Congress’ 5 MLAs and even the Voice of the People (VPP) 4 MLAs projecting an alternate government minus the largest party-NPP which was short of just 5 members to cross the half way mark.
Despite the writing on the wall, the opposition parties attempted to bulldoze their way into government formation boosted by the fiery talk and claims from those keen to rattle the defenses of the NPP coalition.
It was not to be.
By Sunday night, the TMC and the Congress with VPP have been left high and dry after big brother UDP and sibling PDF decided it was time to let them go.
Even before the turn of events, talks were already making the rounds as to how the Congress members, particularly Gambegre MLA Saleng A Sangma and UDP’s Paul Lyngdoh would be seated on the same boat as that with TMC leader Mukul Sangma who happen to be their bete noire.
Saleng had been ousted by Mukul during his Congress days and returned to the party fold only after the latter left to join the TMC. In the case of Paul Lyngdoh, Mukul had dropped him from the urban Affairs ministry during his tenure as chief minister and had helped ensure the victory of Monindro Rapsang in the 2018 elections.
With ideological differences and dislikes on the individual front, it was seen by many as just a matter of time before the house fell like a pack of cards- except it started from the foundation pillars (read UDP).
