Shillong: Eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday, in a major political development in Meghalaya.
The eight MLAs are Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, former cabinet minister Kyrmen Shylla, Mawsynram MLA Ollan Sing Suin, Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Sohiong MLA Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, Shella MLA Balajied Kupar Synrem, Mawphlang MLA Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah and Ranikor MLA Pius Marwein.
Speaking at the joining ceremony, Rymbui said the decision was driven by the need to address several issues specific to Meghalaya, including the demand for Khasi to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, changes to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), relaxation of coal mining rules and the relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
According to Rymbui, the group believes the support of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is necessary to take these issues forward, and said the BJP leadership had given assurances on them.
Speaking to EastMojo after joining the BJP, Rymbui said the decision was aimed at strengthening the party as well as Meghalaya’s voice.
“In electoral politics and in democracy, whatever you do, you have to do in a positive way. So positivity is the number one thing,” he said.
“Our joining the BJP today will strengthen the BJP in the state and strengthen the voice of Meghalaya. As you understand, we are culturally a minority, we have our own distinct culture, distinct religion and a distinct language,” Rymbui said.
He said the MLAs hoped their decision would have an impact on development as well as issues specific to Meghalaya.
“We hope with our joining it will deeply impact the state of Meghalaya in development and also the local issues, which are unique to our state of Meghalaya,” he said.
Asked whether joining the BJP could be a concern given perceptions of the party as a Hindu-majority political party in a state where Christians form the majority, Rymbui said the MLAs would seek to raise the concerns of minorities from within the party.
“Since 2014, this thing has happened and in any society, you have to see that the majoritarian attitude is always there,” he said.
“But having said that, once we are there, we will be the voice of the minority, will be the voice of the oppressed if it is there,” Rymbui said.
He said he hoped the BJP’s central leadership would remain open to communicating with the MLAs on issues concerning Meghalaya.
“I hope that we could communicate anything and everything. So issues maybe they are here and there. But having said that, we try to resolve issues one by one,” he said.
The entry of the eight MLAs takes the BJP’s strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly from two to 10, making it the second-largest party in the House after the National People’s Party (NPP). The UDP’s strength has been reduced from 12 to four.
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