Shillong, Oct 13: Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma is yet to take a call on the merger of eight UDP MLAs with the BJP, saying he is examining the matter and awaiting legal opinions before arriving at a conclusion.
The Speaker said the eight legislators had met him on Tuesday to reiterate their decision to join the BJP, but the merger remains under consideration.
“I am still examining it, and I am waiting for the legal opinion from different sources. It will be coming very soon,” Sangma said.
He said he had also received a petition from the UDP leadership and was awaiting rectifications. The party has been given 10 days to address the issues, with the deadline expiring on Wednesday.
According to the Speaker, the petitions submitted by the remaining MLAs had omissions and lacked clarity.
“I cannot mention the rules and clauses, but there were some omissions and their submission was not very clear. I have given them time to review it and submit it back to me again,” he said.
Asked whether the eight legislators can officially be recognised as BJP MLAs, Sangma clarified that the matter has not yet been decided.
He said the Speaker’s office cannot take such decisions hastily and has to examine the legal aspects carefully, particularly given the implications of anti-defection provisions.
“I have to be very careful. Once bitten, twice shy. I am taking my time and examining it so that I can be sure and make a decision with a very clear mind,” he said.
Sangma said he was also referring to previous political developments and decisions, including an earlier ruling concerning a split in the Congress party, which remains under scrutiny before the Meghalaya High Court.
He clarified that recognising a merger of political parties falls within the purview of the Election Commission, while his office is examining the question of a split within the party in the context of the petitions before him.
The Speaker said his immediate priority was to decide on the disqualification petition filed against the UDP legislators before proceeding further.
The eight UDP MLAs — Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla, Ollan Sing Suin, Mayralborn Syiem, Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah, Balajied Kupar Synrem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah and Pius Marwein — had joined the BJP on September 23 in New Delhi, dealing a major blow to the regional party and reducing UDP’s strength in the Assembly from 12 to 4.
