Shillong, Sept 23: In a key political development, eight United Democratic Party (UDP) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The eight legislators who switched sides are Lahkmen Rymbui (Amlarem), Kyrmen Shylla (Khliehriat), Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah (Mawphlang), Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah (Sohiong), Balajied Kupar Synrem (Shella), Mayralborn Syiem (Nongpoh), Pius Marwein (Ranikor) and Olan Sing Suin (Mawsynram).
With this, UDP has lost its status as the largest regional party in Meghalaya, bringing the tally to just four.
The four remaining MLAs are UDP president and Cabinet Minister Metbah Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh (West Shillong), Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (Mawkyrwat) and Nujorki Sungoh (Mookaiaw).
They were formally inducted into the BJP at the party headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, BJP MP Sambit Patra and state president Rikman G Momin.
The merger is learnt to have come after the BJP central leadership assured to address four key demands of the state — inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule, relocation of Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong, resolution of the coal mining issue and amendment of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) to check influx.
The switch has catapulted the BJP’s strength from 2 to 10 in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, dramatically altering the power equations within the NPP-led MDA government.
