Overview
- The three United Democratic Party legislators — Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton L. Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh — submitted merger papers to the Assembly Speaker and were expelled by the UDP on Monday seeking to join the National People’s Party.
- Speaker Thomas A. Sangma said he has received the application but will seek legal opinion and verify each MLA’s voluntary consent before ruling on recognition under the Constitution’s anti‑defection rules.
- If the Speaker recognises the merger the NPP’s tally would rise from 33 to 36 in the 60‑member Assembly while the BJP already rose from 2 to 10 after an earlier eight‑member UDP merger recognised on October 16.
- The three MLAs represent three‑quarters of the UDP’s remaining legislators, exceeding the two‑thirds numerical threshold in the Tenth Schedule, but procedural checks and consent verification are being treated as decisive.
- The shifts would leave UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh as the party’s likely lone MLA, alter power within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, and shape candidate and alliance calculations ahead of the 2028 state election.