Meghalaya’s political landscape is heading for a major realignment more than a year before the next Assembly election, with eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs moving towards the BJP. The development could increase the BJP’s strength in the 60-member Assembly from two seats to 10, potentially making it the second-largest party in the House.
However, the numbers are only part of the political shift. The eight legislators have linked their moveto a set of key issues, including progress on coal mining, inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), and relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
The legislators have said BJP leaders have given assurances on these issues ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
Impact on the ruling alliance
The proposed shift would also alter the balance within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA). Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) has 33 MLAs, while the UDP has 12 and the BJP has two. Both the UDP and BJP are currently allies of the NPP-led government.
The move is not expected to immediately threaten the government because the NPP already has an absolute majority in the Assembly. Instead, it could change the relative strength and political leverage of the parties within the ruling coalition, with the BJP potentially becoming a much larger player.
At the same time, the UDP could lose a substantial part of its strength as an independent regional political force. The party has served as an important regional counterweight within the MDA, making the proposed shift significant beyond the individual legislators.
Weeks of negotiations
The development follows weeks of discussions between the legislators and the BJP. UDP MLA Ollan Singh Suin had publicly acknowledged that eight legislators were in talks with the BJP. The UDP leadership, however, had initially rejected speculation about a mass exit from the party.
Former UDP MLA Jemino Mawthoh has already joined the BJP, adding to indications that the party is seeking to strengthen its organisational presence in Meghalaya ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
Key issues behind the move
The proposed switch is significant because the legislators have connected their political move with several unresolved local issues rather than presenting it simply as a change in party affiliation.
Kyrmen Shylla has said the group expects action on the issues before the 2028 election. He also warned that the legislators could reconsider their position if the commitments are not fulfilled.
Coal mining remains a sensitive issue in Meghalaya. The demand to include Khasi in the Eighth Schedule has broader implications for language and identity in the state. The implementation of the MRSSA and relocation of the Harijan Colony are also longstanding local concerns.
For the BJP, the move could offer an opportunity to use its access to the Centre to strengthen its political position in a state where regional identity remains an important factor in electoral politics.
New dimension ahead of 2028 polls
The political development could add a new dimension to the 2028 Assembly contest. The BJP’s ability to retain the regional leaders who are moving towards it and deliver on the commitments made to them is likely to remain a closely watched issue.
For the UDP, the immediate challenge will be to maintain its identity as a separate regional political force after the loss of a large section of its legislators.
With the NPP retaining a clear majority in the Assembly, the proposed movement is primarily significant for the internal balance of the MDA and the positioning of the BJP and UDP ahead of the next Meghalaya Assembly election.