India, July 30 -- Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, the lone Congress legislator in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly, on Wednesday switched over to the ruling National People's Party (NPP) led by chief minister Conrad Sangma.

The Congress described Lyngdoh's exit as a "betrayal for silver coins" and a continuation of the ruling NPP's "shopping spree" funded through "loot and corruption".

Assembly speaker Thomas A. Sangma said he received Lyngdoh's request to merge with the NPP. "With assistance from legal advisers and my staff, we found the application valid under the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Accordingly, I have accepted his application. He is now a member of the National People's Party with immediate effect," the sp...