UDP faces mass defections in Meghalaya Legislature

The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya has been significantly depleted following two waves of legislative mergers. Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma formally recognized the merger of three UDP MLAs—Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, and Nujorki Sungoh—with the National People’s Party (NPP) on October 23, 2026.

This follows a previous merger on October 16, 2026, where eight UDP MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, these moves were executed as mergers rather than individual defections, as the departing members met the two-thirds requirement necessary to merge their legislative party with another.

UDP President and Cabinet Minister Metbah Lyngdoh expressed surprise at the sudden departures, noting that the legislators were elected on UDP tickets in 2023. While the party has lost most of its MLAs, Lyngdoh maintained that the UDP remains a functioning political entity with active office bearers and district council members. The party has announced advocate Vivanstone G Kynta as its candidate for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election and stated it is preparing for the 2028 Assembly polls.