Overview
- Jemino Mawthoh confirmed on September 6 that he and his supporters will formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party on September 12, 2026.
- A group of eight UDP MLAs led by Lahkmen Rymbui are reported to be waiting for approval from the BJP central leadership before switching, and they have placed specific demands for assurances.
- Under India’s anti-defection law, at least two-thirds of a legislature party must back a merger to avoid disqualification, meaning eight of the UDP’s 12 MLAs would have to join for a legal merger.
- The legislators’ list of demands includes Khasi language recognition in the Eighth Schedule, amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, changes to coal-mining rules, and greater Centre-backed development support, and local disputes such as the Sohiong development row are cited as a trigger for the push.
- If eight or more UDP members merge with the BJP the party’s strength in the 60-member assembly would jump into double digits, prompting warnings from regional leaders about the erosion of local political identity and raising fresh questions about MDA-II coalition stability ahead of 2028.