Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh has given approval to the merger of 12 Indian National Congress MLAs with the All India Trinamool Congress, as provided under Paragraph IV of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.<br />''<br />''The Speaker's decision vindicates the stand of former Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and former Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope who had maintained, all along, that their merger with the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress along with ten other Congress MLAs was legal and within the ambit of the Constitution.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The Speaker's ruling also elevates the All India Trinamool Congress – Meghalaya to the rank of principal opposition in the State.</span><br />