Meghalaya Speaker recognises merger of eight UDP legislators with BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party has increased its legislative strength in Meghalaya after Speaker Thomas A Sangma formally recognised the merger of eight United Democratic Party legislators with the party. The formal recognition was issued in an official bulletin by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat on October 16 under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, marking a major change in the state political equation.

The eight lawmakers included in this political shift are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah. Following this formal transition, the BJP tally in the assembly has risen from two members to ten, while the strength of the United Democratic Party in the House has decreased to four members.

National spokesperson Sambit Patra welcomed the development and congratulated the state party unit on the expanded assembly presence. In a social media post on October 17, Patra stated that the National Democratic Alliance would continue working to advance various developmental projects in the state under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.