Overview
- The Speaker formally recognised the merger of eight United Democratic Party legislators with the Bharatiya Janata Party on October 16, cutting UDP’s strength from 12 to four and raising the BJP’s tally from two to ten in the 60‑member Meghalaya Assembly.
- A disqualification petition filed by UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh was dismissed for procedural defects under the Assembly’s disqualification rules; the Speaker invoked Rule 7(2) for non‑compliance with Rule 6 and said he was not deciding on the merits.
- The Speaker’s order listed specific shortcomings in the petition, including missing names and addresses of persons relied on, absence of cited documents and annexures, an unauthenticated pen drive reference, and defects in the verification certificate.
- The eight MLAs named in the notification are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah.
- The defecting MLAs say they joined the BJP to press five Meghalaya‑specific demands and cite assurances from central BJP leaders; the shift strengthens the BJP within the NPP‑led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance and leaves open the possibility of further legal or political challenges.