Meghalaya: 8 UDP MLAs switch to BJP

The BJP on Wednesday got a shot in the arm with eight MLAs of Meghalaya’s United Democratic Party (UDP) joining it in the presence of senior leaders, including Union minister Kiren Rijiju at the party headquarters. Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy joined the BJP in New Delhi.

The UDP has 12 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, two of whom are ministers in the Conrad K Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government. With eight of the UDP legislators switching sides, the BJP’s strength in the 60-member assembly increased from two to 10. It would give the BJP more influence over ministerial representation and policy priorities, as the State heads to the Assembly election in 2028. Both the UDP and BJP are currently allies of the NPP-led Government.

Welcoming the UDP MLAs to the party, Rijiju said they have joined the BJP looking at the progress of the northeast and Meghalaya under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is an extremely important political development, not only for the northeast but the entire country. It is a defining moment for Meghalaya,” the senior BJP leader said at a joint press conference at the BJP headquarters. “All of these eight MLAs were extremely impressed and influenced by Prime Minister Modi and our BJP-led NDA Government’s performance. They decided to join the BJP,” Rijiju added.

At the press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra, who is also the party’s coordinator for northeastern States, announced the names of the eight UDP MLAs who joined the saffron party here. “We were in talks with them,” Patra said.

Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui said all eight MLAs, including him, have joined the BJP because its central leadership has given a “positive response” to their demands. “This is not happening all of a sudden. The talk has been going on for quite some time. As you see, so many of our MLAs have aspirations to contribute to society and a few issues in the state (for) which we need the Government’s support,” Rymbui told the press conference. Inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act and simplification of coal mining in Meghalaya are among other issues on which the central leadership have “responded positively”, he said. “That’s why we are here today to join the party,” Rymbui added.

UDP suspends 3 of 8 MLAs

Shillong: The United Democratic Party (UDP) suspended three of its eight MLAs who joined the BJP, as the regional party in Meghalaya began disciplinary action against legislators who crossed over to the saffron party, party president Metbah Lyngdoh said. The action came hours after the eight UDP MLAs joined the BJP following a meeting of the party's state parliamentary board, chaired by Lyngdoh.

He said the party had issued show-cause notices to the three legislators after they publicly announced their decision to join other political parties. “We gave them time until today to appear personally before the state parliamentary board or submit a written reply if they wished. However, none of these members responded to the show-cause notice,” he said. “The party unanimously decided to suspend these three members until further orders,” Lyngdoh said.

The suspended legislators are Mawsynram MLA Olan Sing Suin, Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla and Mawphlang MLA Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah.