SHILLONG: West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh was sworn in as the 12th minister of the MDA II government led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at a ceremony in Shillong.
Governor C. H. Vijayashankar administered the oath of office to Lyngdoh in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Ministers Sniawbhalang Dhar and Prestone Tynsong, cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai, NPP MLAs and MDCs, and members of his family.
Lyngdoh joined the National People’s Party after resigning from the United Democratic Party.
The United Democratic Party has encountered a severe crisis since its inception in 1997, witnessing its legislator strength decline from 12 to just one within forty days following the departure of 11 members.
United Democratic Party President Metbah Lyngdoh earlier resigned as a cabinet minister after all party legislators exited, submitting his resignation letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
The United Democratic Party, which secured 12 seats in the 2023 elections, initially lost eight legislators—Lahkmen Rymbui, Ollan Singh Suin, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah, Mayralborn Syiem, Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Synshar Kupar Roy—who aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party, an official merger recognized by the Speaker that elevated the Bharatiya Janata Party strength from two to 10 while reducing the United Democratic Party to four.
The regional party subsequently lost three more legislators—Paul Lyngdoh from West Shillong, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar from Mawkyrwat, and Nujorki Sungoh from Mowkaiaw—to the National People’s Party, raising the National People’s Party tally from 33 to 36 and leaving Metbah Lyngdoh as the lone remaining United Democratic Party legislator.
(4FrontMedia news)
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