BJP STRENGTH RISES TO 10 IN MEGHALAYA AS EIGHT UDP MLAs JOIN PARTY
A major political realignment has taken place in Meghalaya, with eight sitting MLAs of the United Democratic Party joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The mass crossover has significantly altered the political arithmetic in the state, taking the BJP's strength in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to 10.
Ending weeks of speculation, eight UDP legislators formally crossed over to the BJP at a joining ceremony held in New Delhi on 23 September, 2026.
The legislators are Lahkmen Rymbui, Balajiedkupar Synrem, Ollan Sing Suin, Mayralborn Syiem, Kyrmen Shylla, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, Pius Marwein and Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah.
They represent the constituencies of Amlarem, Shella, Mawsynram, Nongpoh, Khliehriat, Sohiong, Ranikor and Mawphlang respectively.
Among those joining the BJP is Lahkmen Rymbui, MLA from Amlarem and a Minister in the MDA-II Government.
The joining ceremony was attended by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, BJP leader Sambit Patra, Meghalaya BJP State President Rikman G Momin and other senior party leaders, who formally welcomed the eight legislators into the BJP fold.
With the latest development, the BJP's strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly has risen to 10 MLAs.
The party already had two legislators — South Shillong MLA and MDA-II Minister Sanbor Shullai, and Pynthorumkhrah MLA A.L. Hek.
The mass defection marks a major shift in Meghalaya's political landscape and is set to reshape the numerical equation within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
For the UDP, the crossover represents a substantial reduction in its legislative strength, while the BJP has emerged with a significantly larger presence in the Assembly.
The political realignment is expected to have wider implications for the state's coalition politics, with the BJP now commanding a much larger legislative presence in the Meghalaya Assembly.
