Shillong : Three Congress Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) on Monday joined the National People’s Party (NPP) in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

In a post on X, CM Sangma said that their induction is a testament to faith in the NDA government’s vision.

“Overjoyed to welcome 3 MLAs from Congress to NPP. Their induction is a testament to faith in our government’s vision. With this merger, we now have 31 members in the 60-seat Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, securing a full majority! Cheers to our supporters & well-wishers!” Sangma said.

In the 60-seat assembly of Meghalaya, the NDA has 46 MLAs with NPP having 31 (after induction of three Congress MLAs), BJP having two, United Democratic Party- 12 and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HDPDP) having two.

Two independent candidates also support the NDA alliance. Opposition’s INDIA bloc has 13 MLAs with TMC having five, Congress now has only one and Voice of the People Party having four.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Thursday that the government will appoint locals as ‘tourist assistants’ in a phased manner. These semi-uniformed personnel will serve as tour guides, provide security, and offer information to tourists.

“The goal is to make tourists feel safe and ensure they receive accurate information,” he said while addressing a consultation with tourism stakeholders at the State Convention Centre in Shillong. This initiative will also create job opportunities for local youths.

The Chief Minister highlighted the recent law and order issues that affected tourism, emphasising the need for collective action. “We must work together to condemn such incidents and promote a positive environment for tourism,” he stated.