NCP threatens to disqualify Meghalaya legislators

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sunday threatened to seek the disqualification of its 12 legislators in Meghalaya who have joined the National People’s Party (NPP).

In the 60-member assembly, the NCP has 14 legislators including suspended legislator Adolf Lu Hitler R. Marak.

Marak and Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai did not join the NPP, which was launched by former Lok Sabha Speaker and Purno A. Sangma.

“We are planning to appeal to the speaker (Charles Pyngrope) seeking disqualification of the 12 under the anti-defection law,” NCP’s Robert Kharshiing told IANS.

“NCP is a national party. If at all there is merger or split, it has to take place at the national level,” Kharshiing said.

Sangma, however, said: “The anti-defection law does not provide for the disqualification of the NCP members if two-third of the MLAs in Meghalaya merge with NPP.”

Echoing Sangma’s views, Meghalaya Speaker Charles Pyngrope said: “The 10th schedule of the constitution does not attract disqualification if more than two-third of the original members merge with a new party.”

On Friday, Sangma’s sons James K. Sangma and Conrad K. Sangma were among the dozen NCP legislators who joined the new party. Conrad heads the opposition in the Meghalaya assembly.

Sangma’s daughter Agatha Sangma, a minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, is still with the NCP.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar had dissolved the party’s Meghalaya unit after the defection.