Shillong, October 19: The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya is set to be reduced to a single legislator, with three of its four remaining MLAs likely to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) on Monday.
UDP leader Paul Lyngdoh said the three legislators were expected to join the NPP, which would increase its strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from 33 to 36.
The development comes days after Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma recognised the merger of eight UDP MLAs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reducing the UDP’s strength in the House to four.
The three legislators likely to join the NPP are Paul Lyngdoh, Nujorki Sungoh and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar. The move would leave UDP president and minister Metbah Lyngdoh as the party’s sole MLA.
The eight UDP legislators who joined the BJP are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah.
They joined the BJP in New Delhi on September 23 and submitted a letter informing the Assembly of their merger two days later. The Speaker recognised the merger on October 16, taking the BJP’s strength in the Assembly from two to 10.
Both the UDP and BJP are constituents of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
If the three remaining UDP legislators join the NPP, the move would further consolidate the ruling party’s position in the Assembly, while leaving the UDP with only its president representing it in the House.
Also Read: How local businesses on Manipur are backing polo and the ponies behind it