New Delhi: In a jolt to both parties, two MLAs of the ruling National People's Party (NPP) and one of the opposition Trinamool Congress resigned from the assembly on Monday, reported news agency PTI. Assembly commissioner and secretary Andrew Simmons told PTI that NPP MLAs Ferlin Sangma, Benedic Marak and TMC's H M Shangpliang submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.
Sources said the MLAs who resigned have also given up membership in their respective parties. Speculation is rife that the three leaders may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) next month. The BJP is an ally in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
All three of them would be visiting Delhi soon to join the BJP, said Shangpliang, who represented the Mawsynram constituency.
"We have resigned today to join the BJP. There is a need to work hand in hand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the state. People in Meghalaya, especially the farmers and the youth, should also support the PM in his endeavour to bring about development in the state," Shangpliang, who had last year quit the Congress to join the TMC, said.
He added that the welfare of the people and the development of this northeastern state can only be guaranteed by a BJP chief minister.
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Marak was the MLA for Raksamgre, and Ferlin Sangma was the MLA for Selsella.
Welcoming the move, a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity, "They have realised that the BJP is the only party that is focussed on the development of their constituencies as well as the entire state,"
On Monday, 57 MLAs resigned, bringing the total number of House members to 60.
At the moment, the NPP has 21 House members, the UDP has eight, the PDF has four, the BJP has two, the HSPDP has two, and the IND has seven.
TMC has 11 legislators, KHNAM has one, and NCP has one.
(With PTI Inputs)