Shillong, Oct 17: In a major political shake-up, Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma has recognised the merger of eight UDP legislators with the BJP under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule.
As per Bulletin issued by Assembly Secretariat on October 16, the eight MLAs are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah.With this, UDP strength in the 60-member House has been reduced from 12 to four, while BJP’s tally has risen from two to 10.
The UDP, with 12 MLAs after 2023 polls, was the second largest party and key constituent of NPP-led MDA government headed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. The BJP, which won only two seats, was a junior partner.
The merger significantly alters the power equation. BJP is now the second largest party after NPP, strengthening the saffron party’s leverage in the state despite being in power at Centre.
The development comes after weeks of speculation over dissidence in UDP. The group of eight, constituting two-thirds of UDP legislature party, had submitted a letter to the Speaker claiming merger with BJP, invoking Paragraph 4(2) which exempts merger from disqualification if two-thirds agree.
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh had filed objections contending that the merger is not valid without the organisational merger of the parent party. UDP argued Tenth Schedule protects merger only when original political party merges, and mere legislature party merger cannot be recognised.
It also contended no resolution of BJP accepting merger was submitted and move was engineered to circumvent anti-defection law, urging the Speaker to reject the claim and initiate disqualification under Paragraph 2.
However, the Speaker after examining the petition, replies and hearing both sides, accepted the claim noting two-thirds requirement under Paragraph 4(2) was fulfilled.
The remaining UDP MLAs are Metbah Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh. The regional party was founded in 1997 and a major regional force has been reduced to four.
