Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma issued an order on October 23 formally recognising the merger of three United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). Paul Lyngdoh of West Shillong, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar of Mawkyrwat, and Nujorki Sungoh of Mowkaiaw will now occupy their seats as NPP members. The move instantly elevates the NPP’s assembly strength to 36.
This is the final blow to the UDP. The party, which emerged as the single-largest political force in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region after the 2023 Assembly elections, has effectively disintegrated. Metbah Lyngdoh, the party president, is now the sole UDP MLA remaining in the house. The political rout accelerated rapidly over the past week.
Days earlier, on October 16, Speaker Sangma accepted the merger of eight other UDP MLAs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The three latest defectors had submitted their merger communication to the Speaker on October 17. They claimed to represent at least two-thirds of the UDP Legislature Party, asserting that the original party had resolved to merge with the NPP.
After examining the communication and verifying the members’ decision, the Speaker recognised the merger under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution. The legal process is now complete. The UDP no longer exists as a significant legislative force in Meghalaya. The ruling NPP consolidates its majority, while the BJP gains a foothold in the party’s traditional strongholds.