Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma wants a clean sweep. On Wednesday, the National People’s Party leader set an unambiguous goal: win a clear majority in the 2028 Assembly elections. The party has work to do. Sangma identified the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections, and the 2028 polls as top priorities. He pushed D.R.L. Nonglait as the candidate for Parliament and told workers to grind even when exhausted.
The announcement followed an induction ceremony at the NPP state office in Shillong. Sangma officially welcomed Paul Lyngdoh and Renikton L. Tongkhar to the fold. Mookaiaw MLA Nujorki Sungoh missed the event due to health issues. These moves come after the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker recognized the merger of these three legislators with the NPP on October 23. This shift leaves UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh standing alone.
Paul Lyngdoh joined the NPP to start the third phase of a 35-year political career. He previously founded KHNAM in 2002 before moving to the UDP. He praised the NPP for a level of fraternity he found lacking in his old party. He joked about the venue size, saying the party’s “big heart” was inversely proportional to the size of the hall hosting the ceremony.
Lyngdoh called for leaders to focus on transforming Meghalaya rather than recycling old practices. He referenced history, noting that the cooperation between Khasi-Pnar and Garo communities is vital to the state’s future. Sangma dismissed the idea of newcomers, citing old personal ties with Tongkhar and Lyngdoh. Party president Prestone Tynsong and vice-president Sniawbhalang Dhar attended the event. The Chief Minister warned his team against complacency. He insisted that every single vote counts.
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