Shillong: National People’s Party (NPP) legislator and Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) govt adviser Ampareen Lyngdoh has said the ruling coalition remained stable despite eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs joining the BJP.“We are in charge and we are executing our executive roles as in charge of the government,” the adviser said.“Governance is still in progress and we will continue till 2028 as per mandate of law. We have full faith in the leadership of our chief minister Conrad K Sangma and the two deputy chief ministers who will steer the state forward,” the Laitumkhrah legislator said.“Please allow the govt to execute its role. Political parties will take their own actions. It is not as if everything has come to a standstill,” she said, dismissing speculation that the ruling coalition could face political instability.Deputy CM and NPP national vice-president Sniawbhalang Dhar also ruled out speculation that he was planning to join BJP. Dhar, however, acknowledged receiving feelers to switch parties but said he could not betray the mandate secured in the 2023 assembly elections.“I have to respect my people, especially from my constituency. They elected me from NPP and frankly speaking, I belong to NPP and I will continue to be with NPP only. The question of switching to any party does not arise. I cannot betray my people of Nartiang constituency and people of Meghalaya,” he said.The eight UDP MLAs, who joined BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday, submitted a letter to Meghalaya assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Friday, informing him of their merger with BJP.UDP, a constituent of the ruling MDA, now has four MLAs, while BJP’s strength has risen from two to 10 in the 60-member assembly.
