Meghalaya UDP to be reduced to one MLA as three legislators eye NPP

The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya is expected to be reduced to a single legislator following the anticipated move of three of its four remaining MLAs to the ruling National People's Party (NPP) on Monday.

This shift would increase the NPP's strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from 33 to 36. The three legislators expected to join the NPP are Paul Lyngdoh, Nujorki Sungoh, and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar. If the move proceeds, UDP President Metbah Lyngdoh will be the party's only representative in the House.

This development follows a recent merger where eight UDP MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move recognized by the Assembly Speaker on October 16. That merger increased the BJP's presence in the Assembly from two to 10 members. Both the NPP and BJP are part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.