UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP on 12 September.
Former Meghalaya MLA and UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP on Saturday. Following this, eight of the UDP’s 12 MLAs may join the BJP. If this happens, the BJP could become the second-largest party in the Assembly.
The UDP’s Central Executive Committee meeting was held in Shillong on 11 September, but six MLAs did not attend. However, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said the party’s MLAs were united.
The NPP has 33 MLAs, the UDP has 12 and the BJP has two in the Assembly
Mawthoh resigned from the UDP in May. Both the UDP and the BJP are part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government led by the National People’s Party (NPP). In the 60-member Assembly, the NPP has 33 MLAs, while the UDP has 12 and the BJP has two.
If eight UDP MLAs join the BJP, the party’s strength will increase to 10. The BJP will then become the second-largest party in the Assembly after the NPP.
UDP MLA says there are no differences with the party
According to some media reports from Meghalaya, three UDP MLAs said at a party meeting that their next move would depend on whether the BJP accepted its demand. They include Cabinet Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Balajied Khyriem Synrem and Olan Singh Suin.
All three MLAs said they had no differences with the UDP leadership. They said that if they switched parties, it would be in the interest of their constituencies and the state.
BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek declined to say how many UDP MLAs would join the BJP or when this would happen. He said the BJP currently had two seats and held one Cabinet post. If the number of MLAs increased, the BJP should demand more ministerial posts in the government.
