[REVISION HISTORY]

UDP reduced to one MLA after BJP merger and NPP shifts

Updated 25 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-19 12:33 UTC → 2026-10-25 04:01 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The political landscape of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has undergone a major realignment following ~~the Speaker’s recognition of~~ a ~~merger between eight~~ series of defections that have left the United Democratic Party (UDP) with only one representative, Metbah Lyngdoh. The shift began with a significant merger where eight UDP MLAs ~~and~~ joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ~~(BJP).~~ (BJP), a move recognized by the Assembly Speaker on October 16. This ~~decision~~ increased the BJP’s strength from two to 10 ~~seats. Prior to~~ seats, making it the ~~ruling, reports indicated that~~ second-largest party in the 60-member Assembly. The defecting ~~group had negotiated a charter of demands with~~ group, which included Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, cited the ~~BJP~~ central ~~leadership. These included~~ government’s response to regional demands—such as the inclusion of ~~the~~ Khasi ~~language~~ and Garo languages in the Eighth ~~Schedule of the Constitution, lifting the ban on coal mining,~~ Schedule, coal-mining regulations, and amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA). While UDP President Metbah Lyngdoh initially denied merger rumors, claiming meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah focused on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, the subsequent defection of figures like former UDP strategist Jemino Mawthoh signaled a shift. The ruling has left (MRSSA)—as primary motivations. In response, the UDP ~~in a precarious position.~~ suspended three legislators for anti-party activities. Following ~~the recognition of the eight-member merger on October 16,~~ this, the ~~party was reduced to four legislators. The~~ UDP ~~is now expected to be reduced to a single representative, Metbah Lyngdoh,~~ faced further attrition as three of ~~the~~ its remaining four MLAs—Paul Lyngdoh, Nujorki Sungoh, and Renikton Lyngdoh ~~Tongkhar—are anticipated to join~~ Tongkhar—moved toward the ~~ruling~~ National People’s Party ~~(NPP) on Monday. If~~ (NPP). On October 24, Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma disqualified these ~~moves proceed,~~ three legislators under Paragraph 4 of the ~~NPP’s strength will rise from 33~~ Tenth Schedule, ruling that their expressed intent to ~~36 seats in~~ join the ~~60-member Assembly, significantly altering~~ NPP on October 17 violated constitutional provisions regarding party switching. While the ~~power dynamics within~~ BJP has expanded, NPP leadership has maintained that the party remains united and that the shifts do not threaten the stability of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by Chief Minister Conrad ~~Sangma ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.~~ Sangma.

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