I joined the BJP because the party is in Delhi. I want to apprise the central leaders of the problems faced by the councils.
– Moonlight Pariat, Ex-JHADC chief
Shillong, Oct 3: In another significant political development in Meghalaya, veteran Jaintia Hills leader Moonlight Pariat joined the BJP, days after former Nartiang MLA Draison Kharshiing switched over to the saffron party.
Pariat was is a former Chief Executive Member and a six-time MDC of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).
The 64-year-old leader was inducted into the BJP on Saturday in presence of the party’s state president Rikman G Momin, cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai and Pynthorumkhrah MLA AL Hek.
The development comes close on the heels of the recent switch over of eight MLAS the United Democratic Party (UDP) to the BJP.
Addressing party workers after his induction, Pariat said his decision to join the BJP was driven by a mission to empower the Autonomous District Councils, which he claimed have been rendered toothless.
Stating that his ideology matches that of the BJP, he said, “We are here not to serve ourselves, but to serve the people and humanity.”
He cited Para 12A of Sixth Schedule as one of the bottlenecks for all three ADCs in Meghalaya.
“I tried to do a lot for the people of Jaintia Hills, but our hands are tied. Para 12A says if the District Council makes a law and the state government makes a similar law, the law of the state legislature will prevail. So we are not free to do anything despite having many plans,” Pariat said.
He said the BJP being in power in Delhi gave him hope to raise the issue at the national level.
“I joined the BJP because the party is in Delhi. I want to apprise the central leaders of the problems faced by the councils. For 25 years, we have been chasing the amendment to the Sixth Schedule,” he said.
Pariat lamented that MDCs have been left without any development funds since the 2025 elections.
“It is meaningless to be an MDC without funds,” he said, contrasting Meghalaya’s ADCs with those in Assam.
“Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Councils get not less than Rs 500 crore a year each. In Meghalaya, we get around Rs 200 crore, and that too irregular. Under 15th Finance Commission (2020-2025), we received the first installment of 2021 back then, and the second installment of the same year only now, in 2026. We lost four years of schemes,” he said.
He compared the Sixth Schedule to “a father buying a vehicle for his son without fuel.”
Pariat also urged the BJP to take up the coal mining ban issue, pointing out what he called selective action against Meghalaya.
“The NGT banned coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014 and it has been 12 years. But the same Kupli river flows to Dima Hasao in Assam, where coal is also mined. The Dima Hasao Students’ Union filed a case saying Meghalaya polluted the NEEPCO project. The same river, both sides are digging coal, but only Meghalaya is banned. Nobody has apprised Delhi of this,” he said.
Ending his speech with a political pitch, Pariat said, “I appeal to all leaders here to work together so that in 2028, the BJP will rule the state.”
‘A normal process, no surprise’
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has downplayed some leaders joining the BJP of late, saying shifting loyalties is normal in politics.
“Maybe today, tomorrow, more than a thousand will join NPP. In politics, joining and going is a normal process, no surprise,” Dhar said when asked about the development in Jaintia Hills.
Nartiang MLA Draison Kharshiing also joined the BJP along with his supporters.
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“It is not a threat, not at all,” Dhar asserted.
On reports of NPP MLAs joining the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Nagaland, he said, “Don’t worry, everything will fall into place.”
