Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Eight UDP MLAs Join BJP, Reshaping Meghalaya’s Political Arithmetic
Eight lawmakers in Meghalaya changed political parties.
They left the United Democratic Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi.
This gave the BJP 10 lawmakers in the state Assembly, which has 60 members.
The BJP is now the second-largest party there.
The National People’s Party remains the largest, with 33 lawmakers.
The United Democratic Party now has four lawmakers.
The change followed weeks of talks about the lawmakers’ political future and issues affecting Meghalaya.
BJP leader Kiren Rijiju said the change could improve coordination and strengthen the state government.
The lawmakers also raised issues involving the Khasi language, coal mining and changes to a state law.
Eight United Democratic Party MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The move increased the BJP’s strength in Meghalaya’s 60-member Assembly from two to 10 legislators.
The BJP is now the Assembly’s second-largest party, behind Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party, which has 33 MLAs.
The United Democratic Party has been reduced to four MLAs, while the BJP’s new members include Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla and Pius Marwein.
The legislators had discussed issues including Khasi language recognition, coal mining and amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.
- Who
- Eight United Democratic Party MLAs, including Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla, Pius Marwein and five others, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- The legislators switched parties, increasing the BJP’s Assembly strength from two to 10 and making it Meghalaya’s second-largest party.
- When
- The switch took place on Wednesday; former UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh had joined the BJP on September 12.
- Where
- The legislators were inducted in New Delhi.
- Why
- The move followed weeks of talks about their political future and issues including Khasi language recognition, coal mining and amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.
- Defecting legislators
- Eight United Democratic Party MLAs
- BJP strength
- 10 MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, up from two
- UDP strength
- Four MLAs after the defections
- Largest party
- The National People’s Party has 33 MLAs
- Earlier BJP entrant
- Former UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP on September 12
- Issues raised
- Khasi language inclusion in the Eighth Schedule, legal resumption of coal mining and amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act
- Political impact
- The move could affect the ruling alliance and preparations for the 2028 Assembly elections
