Soon after as many as eight UDP MLAs left the party and joined the BJP, the United Democratic Party on Wednesday suspended three legislators — Kyrmen Shylla, Ollan Singh Suin and Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah. The move came on the same day that the eight legislators formally joined the BJP in New Delhi, marking a major shift in Meghalaya’s ruling alliance politics.
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said the party had already initiated disciplinary proceedings against the three legislators by issuing show-cause notices after they publicly announced their decision to join another political party. “From the party we have given a show cause notice to three members where they have publically announce that joining to another political party and we had given them time till today to appear in person before the state Parliamentary Board or they may send their replies in writing to the board, but none of the three members have responded or given replies to the showcause served by the party today, so the party with one voice have taken decision to place the three members who are elected members of the UDP under suspension until further orders.”
The action came after the eight legislators completed their switch to the BJP, reducing the UDP’s strength from 12 to four in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly. The eight who joined the BJP are Lahkmen Rymbui (Amlarem), former minister Kyrmen Shylla (Khliehriat), Ollan Singh Suin (Mawsynram), Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah (Mawphlang), Mayralborn Syiem (Nongpoh), Pius Marwein (Ranikor), Synshar Thabah (Sohiong) and Balajied Synrem (Shella).
Interestingly, amongst the three of the remaining four sitting UDP legislators, none of them visited the party office on Wednesday, or attend the emergency meeting convened by the party amid the mass crossover.
The mass crossover has substantially altered the political arithmetic within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, with the BJP’s strength rising to 10 MLAs while the UDP has been reduced to four legislators. The development comes as the MDA government remains in office, with both the BJP and UDP being constituents of the ruling alliance.
The political development leaves the UDP facing a significant organisational and legislative setback, while the BJP’s enlarged strength within the Assembly could reshape the internal dynamics of the ruling MDA ahead of the 2028 Assembly election.
