8 MLAs of Meghalaya's United Democratic Party Join BJP

8 UDP MLAs Join BJP in New Delhi

Eight sitting legislators of Meghalaya's United Democratic Party (UDP) joined the BJP at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

The induction took place in the presence of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and other party leaders. The development follows weeks of discussions between the UDP legislators and the BJP leadership over issues concerning Meghalaya.

The eight MLAs are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy.

BJP Strength Rises From 2 to 10 MLAs

The political shift significantly changes the composition of the Meghalaya Assembly.

Before the switch, the UDP had 12 MLAs while the BJP had two in the 60-member House. Following the move, the UDP is left with four MLAs and the BJP's strength rises to 10, making it the second-largest party in the Assembly after the NPP.

Both the UDP and BJP are constituents of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.

The change therefore takes place within the existing ruling alliance rather than involving the eight legislators moving from the government to the Opposition.

Who Are the 8 MLAs Who Joined BJP?

MLAConstituencyLahkmen RymbuiAmlaremPius MarweinRanikorKyrmen ShyllaKhliehriatMayralborn SyiemNongpohMatthew KurbahMawphlangOllan Singh SuinMawsynramBalajied Kupar SynremShellaSynshar Kupar RoySohiong

The eight legislators had been elected as UDP representatives and were formally inducted into the BJP in Delhi on Wednesday.

Why Did the UDP MLAs Join BJP?

The legislators have pointed to several issues specific to Meghalaya.

Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui said the group had been in discussions with the BJP for some time and that the central leadership had responded positively to demands raised by the legislators.

Among the issues cited were the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) and changes relating to coal mining in the state.

Reports have also cited the proposed relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong as an issue discussed with the BJP leadership.

The stated reasons are those given by the legislators and their political representatives.

BJP Welcomes the Legislators

Kiren Rijiju welcomed the eight MLAs into the BJP and said their decision was influenced by development in the Northeast and Meghalaya under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Rijiju described the development as significant for the Northeast and the country. BJP leader Sambit Patra said the party had been in discussions with the legislators before their induction.

The BJP has been seeking to expand its organisational and legislative presence in Meghalaya and other northeastern states.

UDP Strength Falls to Four

The departure of eight MLAs leaves the UDP with four legislators in the Meghalaya Assembly.

The remaining UDP MLAs include party president Metbah Lyngdoh, who is a Cabinet minister, along with Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh, according to local reports.

The reduction changes the UDP's position among the regional parties represented in the state legislature.

BJP Becomes Second-Largest Party in Meghalaya Assembly

With 10 MLAs, the BJP now becomes the second-largest party in the 60-member Assembly, behind the NPP.

The NPP has 33 legislators, according to reports following the latest political shift.

The BJP's increased strength could give it a larger role within discussions among the parties forming the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.

However, the BJP and UDP remain constituents of the same state government alliance.

What Does This Mean for the Meghalaya Government?

The immediate change is primarily in the composition and relative strength of parties within the MDA.

The eight MLAs have not moved into the Opposition; they have moved from one MDA constituent to another. As a result, the development does not by itself indicate a change in the state government.

Instead, it alters the balance between the BJP and UDP within the ruling coalition.

The extent to which this affects ministerial representation, policy priorities or coordination within the alliance will depend on subsequent decisions by the state government and its coalition partners.

Meghalaya Issues Raised by the MLAs

The legislators have highlighted several long-standing issues during discussions with the BJP leadership.

Khasi Language

The group has sought inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule is a constitutional matter requiring action at the national level.

Coal Mining

Coal mining remains an important economic and political issue in Meghalaya. The legislators have sought changes relating to restrictions and the resumption or simplification of mining activities.

MRSSA

The Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act is intended to address concerns surrounding the protection of residents and regulation of migration and settlement. The MLAs have cited implementation or amendments to the legislation among their demands.

Harijan Colony Relocation

Reports have also identified the proposed relocation of the Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong as one of the issues discussed with the BJP leadership.

BJP's Growing Presence in Meghalaya

The latest move comes after another recent development involving the BJP.

Former UDP leader Dr Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP on September 12, according to reports. The addition of Mawthoh followed by the induction of eight sitting MLAs further increases the party's presence in the state.

The BJP entered the latest development with two MLAs and now has 10 legislators in the Assembly.

Implications Ahead of the 2028 Assembly Election

The next Meghalaya Assembly election is due in 2028.

The movement of eight sitting MLAs to the BJP gives the party a substantially larger legislative base ahead of that election cycle.

It also reduces the UDP's representation from 12 to four, potentially changing how the regional party approaches the remaining period of the current Assembly.

The political impact on the 2028 election, however, cannot be determined solely from the current change in party strength.

Meghalaya Political Equation at a Glance

PartyPosition Before SwitchPosition After SwitchNPP3333UDP124BJP210Assembly strength6060

The figures reflect the reported party strength following the induction of the eight UDP MLAs.

What Happens to the UDP?

The UDP now faces the task of operating with a much smaller legislative group.

The party remains part of the MDA government, but its reduced representation could affect its bargaining position within the alliance.

The party's future political strategy, including its approach to the 2028 election, will depend on how it responds to the latest defections and whether it is able to retain its remaining organisational base.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus will be on how the BJP, UDP and other MDA partners adjust to the changed Assembly arithmetic.

The eight MLAs are expected to continue representing their constituencies as BJP legislators, while the remaining UDP MLAs will continue to function as the party's legislative group.

The issues raised by the defecting legislators — including Khasi language recognition, coal mining and MRSSA-related concerns — will also remain important areas to watch.

Bottom Line

Eight sitting MLAs of Meghalaya's United Democratic Party joined the BJP in New Delhi on September 23, 2026. The move takes the BJP's strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly from two to 10, while reducing the UDP from 12 to four.

The legislators have cited issues including Khasi language inclusion in the Eighth Schedule, coal mining, the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act and other state-specific matters as factors behind their decision. BJP leaders have welcomed the move and linked it to the Centre's development initiatives in the Northeast.

The BJP and UDP are both members of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, so the switch changes the internal composition of the ruling coalition rather than immediately changing which alliance governs the state.