SHILLONG: “Not just me, but 11 of us have left. That’s the whole football team,” said Paul Lyngdoh, West Shillong legislator and UDP working president, as three more UDP MLAs moved to merge with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), potentially leaving UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh as the party’s lone legislator in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly.
Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nijorki Sungoh have submitted a merger letter to Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, seeking to merge with the NPP. If recognised, the move would take the NPP’s strength from 33 to 36 MLAs, leaving Metbah Lyngdoh as the only remaining UDP legislator.
Two of the three legislators appeared before the Speaker on Monday, accompanied by NPP leaders, including state president Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Wailadmiki Shylla, among others. Nijorki Sungoh was absent as he is currently in Kolkata for a medical check-up, and the letter concerning him was submitted in his absence.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Tynsong said the NPP’s strength had increased from 33 to 36, but the party would await the Speaker’s decision on the merger.
“Yes, from 33 to 36 we have become as of now, but we leave it to the wisdom of the Speaker,” Tynsong said, adding that the Speaker would examine the documents before delivering his final verdict.
Tynsong said Sungoh could not attend the meeting because he was in Kolkata for a medical check-up and expressed hope that he would join the group in the coming days. “We are looking forward for the Speaker to ultimately give us this best news where three MLAs will be part of NPP,” he said.
Rejecting speculation that the political realignment was driven by the prospect of ministerial berths, Tynsong said the move was based on fundamental political considerations and the legislators’ belief in the NPP’s approach to governance.
“When we strengthen the party, it is not on the basis of cabinet berth. Joining the NPP means there are a few fundamental issues which they feel NPP is there to govern the governance in Meghalaya, so therefore there is no question of cabinet berth,” he said.
On the formal induction of the three legislators, Tynsong said, “Formal joining, we are working out.”
Paul Lyngdoh said the decision was unconditional and that none of the three legislators had sought a ministerial position.
“It was unconditional. The three UDP MLAs have not asked for cabinet berth. It was on the basis of our collective decision as the team of three,” Lyngdoh said, adding that the NPP offered the best possible platform for the kind of service they wanted to provide to the state.
“I don’t hold grudges against anyone. I have only presented facts, not my personal opinion,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Lyngdoh said the three legislators had discussed the fundamental issues they intended to pursue during the remainder of the Assembly’s term. These included strengthening the NPP ahead of the Lok Sabha bypoll, the forthcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections and the 2028 Meghalaya Assembly elections.
“Why NPP? Because here is a national party with a leadership based in Meghalaya and communication is far easier,” he said.
The latest development follows the Speaker’s recognition of the merger of eight of the UDP’s 12 MLAs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The eight legislators are Lahkmen Rymbui, Ollan Singh Suin, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah, Mayralborn Syiem, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy.
With eight former UDP legislators joining the BJP and three others merging with the NPP, the UDP faces the prospect of being reduced to a single MLA—its president, Metbah Lyngdoh. If the latest merger is recognised, the NPP’s strength would rise to 36 in the 60-member House, consolidating its position in the run-up to the 2028 Assembly elections.
