Shillong, 24 October (H.S.): One of Meghalaya’s oldest regional party, The United

Democratic Party (UDP) has been virtually wiped out in the Meghalaya

Legislative Assembly, with Speaker Thomas A. Sangma on Friday formally

recognising the merger of three of its remaining legislators with the ruling

National People's Party (NPP), leaving the regional party with just one MLA in

the 60-member House.

The Assembly Secretariat, in an order dated October 23,

accepted the merger of Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki

Sungoh with the NPP under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the

Constitution, provides for mergers under the anti-defection law.

The latest development comes a week after the Speaker

recognised the merger of eight UDP legislators with the Bharatiya Janata Party

(BJP) on October 16, reducing the UDP's strength from 12 to four. With three of

the four remaining MLAs now formally recognised as NPP members, the party has

been reduced to a solitary legislator.

The NPP's strength in the Assembly has consequently

increased from 33 to 36, while the BJP's tally has risen from two to 10. The

developments mark a major realignment in Meghalaya's political landscape,

strengthening the position of the two principal partners in the Conrad K.

Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

According to the latest order, the three legislators

submitted a communication to the Speaker on October 17, informing him of their

decision to merge with the NPP. They maintained that they constituted not less

than two-thirds of the UDP Legislature Party and fulfilled the numerical

requirement under Paragraph 4(2) of the Tenth Schedule.

The communication also referred to a resolution dated

October 17 through which the original political party, the UDP in Meghalaya,

was stated to have decided to merge with the NPP.

The Speaker examined the communication and directed the

legislators to appear in person to verify its contents. They appeared before

him on October 19, confirmed the communication and reiterated their decision to

join the NPP.

After examining the matter and being satisfied that the

decision had been taken voluntarily, the Speaker accepted the merger through

his October 23 order. The Assembly Secretariat subsequently directed that the

three legislators be allotted seats as NPP members.

The three MLAs are Paul Lyngdoh, representing West Shillong;

Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, representing Mawkyrwat; and Nujorki Sungoh,

representing Mowkaiaw.

The latest development follows a dramatic political shift

that began with the merger of eight UDP legislators with the BJP. The first

order, issued on October 16, had reduced the UDP Legislature Party's strength

to four, paving the way for the subsequent merger of three more legislators

with the NPP.

The back-to-back decisions have dealt a severe blow to the

UDP, which had emerged from the 2023 Assembly elections with 12 legislators and

remained one of the key regional political forces in Meghalaya. Party president

Metbah Lyngdoh is now the lone UDP MLA in the Assembly.

The developments have also altered the balance within the

ruling establishment. With 36 MLAs, the NPP has further consolidated its

position, while the BJP has significantly expanded its legislative presence

through the merger of the eight former UDP legislators.

The political realignment is particularly significant for

the MDA government, which is led by the NPP and includes the BJP among its

partners. Although the mergers do not change the government's leadership, they

strengthen the NPP's numerical position and expand the BJP's representation in

the House.

The decline of the UDP also marks a significant setback for

regional politics in Meghalaya, where the party has traditionally maintained a

strong presence, particularly in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region. The loss of 11

of its 12 legislators in two separate merger decisions raises questions about

its organisational strength and its ability to retain political relevance ahead

of the next Assembly elections.

The Speaker's orders have been issued under the merger

provisions of the Tenth Schedule rather than treating the legislators'

decisions as ordinary changes of party affiliation. The provision allows an

exemption from disqualification on grounds of defection when the prescribed

conditions for a merger are satisfied.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhijit Deb