In a significant fallout of the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) political collapse, party president Metbah Lyngdoh on Saturday resigned as a Cabinet minister in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government, following the exit of 11 of the party’s 12 legislators.
Announcing his decision, Metbah said the prevailing political situation had left him as the UDP’s sole MLA in the Assembly, making it untenable for him to continue as a Cabinet minister. “I will not be able to [continue as] Cabinet minister in the MDA Government. So, therefore, today I have placed my resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. My resignation is with immediate effect. This is the first decision of the party; other decisions will follow,” he said.
The UDP’s decline has been swift and politically consequential. From 12 MLAs elected in 2023, the party was reduced to four after eight legislators — Lahkmen Rymbui, Ollan Singh Suin, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah, Mayralborn Syiem, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy — merged with the BJP. The Speaker’s recognition of the merger on October 16 took the BJP’s strength from two to 10.
The party suffered another setback when Paul Lyngdoh (West Shillong), Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (Mawkyrwat) and Nujorki Sungoh (Mowkaiaw) joined the NPP, taking its strength from 33 to 36 and leaving Metbah as the UDP’s lone legislator.
METBAH LYNGDOH QUITS MDA CABINET AS UDP REDUCED TO LONE MLA
