Shillong, Oct 19: The application submitted by three UDP MLAs to merge with the NPP is under examination of the Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
The application was submitted by Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh along with party resolutions.
“I have received the merger application. Since they submitted it to me personally, I have received it. I have not given them a reply yet as I need to seek some opinion,” Speaker Thomas A Sangma told reporters on Monday.
Clarifying that the merger is not just a formality remaining to be done, he said, “Many may think that since I had already recognised the merger of eight MLAs earlier, this will be just a formality. It is not like that.”
“I have to follow due procedure and process. I have informed them that I will examine and let them know in a few days,” he said.
On numbers, he said, “Mathematically it is more than two-thirds, but it is not as simple as that. I have to seek legal opinion and give my ruling in due course.”
Sangma said he could meet only two MLAs on Monday.
“Of the three members, only two appeared before me today. Nujorki Sungoh is out of station for medical treatment. As done earlier, I have to physically verify whether each member has agreed to merge on their own free will,” he said.
On whether verification can be done online, he said, “There are certain possibilities. Nowadays lawyers can appear online even in the Supreme Court and High Court. Whether I can verify his consent for the merger online or whether his physical presence will be required, I have to seek legal opinion on that.”
“I am still examining,” he added.
