Shillong, Sep 25: The eight former United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) submitted a letter to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly informing of their merger with the BJP.
In the absence of the Speaker, Thomas A Sangma, who is currently abroad, the merger letter was submitted to Andrew Simons, the Adviser (Legislation) to the Assembly.
Seven of the legislators were present in person, with only Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem absent. The MLAs were accompanied by BJP state president Rikman G Momin and the BJP’s South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai.
Simons confirmed that all eight legislators had submitted their papers, which will be processed and examined in accordance with the applicable rules and constitutional provisions. The matter will be examined by the Speaker, following which an appropriate order will be passed, Simons added.
Simons also said that although Syiem was not physically present, his documents had been duly submitted.
The submission follows the formal joining of the BJP by the eight legislators in New Delhi on Wednesday. As the eight represented two-thirds of the UDP’s strength in the Assembly, they will almost certainly not face any problem with the anti-defection law.
