Four NCP legislators who split from their party were today inducted into the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition ministry in Meghalaya. The four — Cyprian R. Sangma, Brening A. Sangma, Elstone D. Marak and Beckstar K. Sangma — were administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor M.M. Jacob.Besides the four, Samuel Sangma and Nidhuram Hajong are also in the breakaway group and together they have formed the Meghalaya Nationalist Congress Party (MNCP). Former chief minister and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president S.C. Marak said the six NCP legislators would formally be inducted into the Congress later.The split is a serious jolt to former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP general secretary Purno A. Sangma. With Lok Sabha elections and District Council elections slated for next year, the split might affect party prospects, said the MPCC president.During the last Assembly elections in February, Sangma had emerged with flying colours in the Garo Hills as his party had won 13 of the 24 Assembly seats.However, with the six legislators joining the party, the strength of the Congress-led MDA coalition has increased to 50 in a 60-member Assembly, while the Opposition has been reduced to 10 legislators — eight from NCP and two from BJP. Prior to induction of the six legislators, the Congress had 22 legislators.There is a buzz in political circles that the Congress, fearing that the NDA would try to topple the government in Meghalaya, had engineered the split to consolidate its position. Marak said: ‘‘We had received a message that the BJP were going to spend Rs 25 crore to topple the Congress-led coalition government in Meghalaya.’’Others members of the coalition are United Democratic Party (UDP), Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP).
