Shillong, Oct 19 Three of the four remaining United Democratic Party MLAs in Meghalaya are likely to join the National People’s Party (NPP) on Monday, increasing the strength of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s party from 33 to 36 in the 60-member Assembly, a UDP leader said.
The development comes days after the Assembly Speaker recognised the merger of eight UDP MLAs with the BJP.
The UDP, which once had 12 MLAs, is now set to be reduced to just one legislator, party president Metbah Lyngdoh, who is also a minister in the Conrad Sangma government.
Both BJP and UDP are constituents of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
UDP leader Paul Lyngdoh said that three of the four remaining UDP MLAs would join the NPP on Monday.
The latest political realignment is set to further reshape the composition of the Meghalaya Assembly, where the NPP is the largest party in the ruling coalition.
After the recent successful merger, the BJP’s strength increased from 2 MLAs to 10.
Eight legislators joined the BJP in New Delhi on September 23 and submitted a letter informing the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly of their merger two days later.
Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma recognised the merger in an order on October 16.
The next assembly election in the northeastern state is due in early 2028.
(PTI News)
