States » EastPosted at: Oct 3 2026 10:00PM


BJP extends presence into tribal councils in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 3 (UNI) The fast developing political realignment in Meghalaya is now steadily extending to the tribal state's autonomous councils, establishing a fresh legislative footing for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in both the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).

This footprint was established after two United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators, Pius Marweiñ and Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah—who are also members of the KHADC—joined the BJP along with six other UDP members of the state legislative assembly last month.

The momentum was reinforced on Saturday when Moonlight Pariat, a sitting Independent MDC and former Chief Executive Member of the JHADC, officially joined the saffron party.

Pariat serves as an Executive Member in the NPP-led Executive Committee of the JHADC, whereas Marweiñ and Thabah sit on the opposition bench in the KHADC, where the Executive Committee is led by the Voice of the People Party (VPP).

The BJP has a single member in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)—Tura MDC Bernard Marak, who was duly elected.

“Several political leaders, including the eight recent UDP legislators and now Moonlight, along with intellectuals, are joining the BJP upon realizing that only the BJP can ensure development in Meghalaya,” an elated State BJP president Rikman Momin told UNI.

He noted that central welfare schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are driving the BJP's growing influence in rural Meghalaya, where public acceptance is on the rise.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government has consistently prioritized the Northeast, Momin said.

“The goal of the Modi government is to bring the Northeast on par with the rest of India by accelerating the pace of its development, where the Congress had failed during its decades in power,” the BJP leader asserted.

During his induction speech, Pariat highlighted the BJP’s potential for transformative change as his main motivation for joining the party.

He pledged to advocate for amending Paragraph 12A of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution to protect the interests of Meghalaya's indigenous population, maintaining that the current provision allows state legislation to override Autonomous District Council (ADC) laws.

Under the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution, Meghalaya has three district councils - for the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills - to safeguard tribal autonomy, culture, and governance.

The autonomous councils also have the power on myriad issues such as forests, tax collection, and so on.
UNI RRK BM
Tags: #BJP extends presence into tribal councils in Meghalaya
More News

BJP extends presence into tribal councils in Meghalaya

03 Oct 2026 | 10:20 PM

Shillong, Oct 3 (UNI) The fast-developing political realignment in Meghalaya is now steadily extending to the state's tribal autonomous councils, establishing a fresh legislative footing for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in both the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).

see more..

BJP extends presence into tribal councils in Meghalaya

03 Oct 2026 | 10:00 PM

Shillong, Oct 3 (UNI) The fast developing political realignment in Meghalaya is now steadily extending to the tribal state's autonomous councils, establishing a fresh legislative footing for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in both the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).

see more..

Meghalaya: KSU intensifies demand for removal of East Khasi Hills SP over ‘extortion’ racket

03 Oct 2026 | 9:57 PM

Shillong, Oct 3 (UNI) The Khasi Students' union (KSU) today intensified its protest, exerting pressure on the Meghalaya government to remove Vivek Syiem from the post of East Khasi Hills district Superintendent of Police over an extortion racket, allegedly operated by police personnel targeting truckers along the Shillong bypass.

see more..

Manipur Governor Bhalla launches nutritional support for TB patients, distributes AI-enabled X-ray machines

03 Oct 2026 | 9:41 PM

Imphal, Oct 3 (UNI) Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Saturday attended a programme at the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Imphal, for the distribution of nutritional food baskets to tuberculosis (TB) patients and their family caregivers under the Nikshay Mitra initiative.

see more..

Bihar CM inspects under-construction ethanol plant in Jamui

03 Oct 2026 | 9:30 PM

Jamui, Oct 3 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected the under-construction Ankur Biochem Private Limited ethanol plant at Chakai in Jamui district and reviewed the progress of the project on Saturday.

see more..