Raphael Warjri

The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has stated that its petition challenging the defection of four party MLAs to the National People's Party (NPP) is currently under consideration before the Meghalaya High Court.

According to Manuel Badwar, Secretary of the MPCC, who addressed the media along with Kynpham Kharlyngdoh, the petition was filed against four legislators—Charles Marngar, Gabriel Wahlang, Celestine Lyngdoh and Ronnie V Lyngdoh—who had shifted allegiance from the Congress to the NPP.

The Congress stated that the move to approach the High Court followed the rejection of its earlier plea by the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The Speaker had declined to entertain the disqualification petition, stating that such a complaint must be filed by an MLA.

However, the Congress maintains that the interpretation is not in line with legal provisions, citing judgments of the Supreme Court of India which, it claims, allow any concerned individual to initiate such proceedings.

The matter is currently under judicial consideration before the High Court, and further proceedings are awaited.