States » EastPosted at: Sep 24 2026 10:15PM


Meghalaya: Christian Forum terms UDP legislators defection to BJP as 'betrayal of mandate'

Shillong, Sep 24 (UNI) The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) in Meghalaya on Thursday termed the crossover of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a “betrayal of the people’s mandate”.
The eight UDP legislators led by Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui joined the BJP, in the presence of union Minister Kiren Rijiju and other senior leaders, at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday.
With the crossover, the strength of the BJP has increased from two to ten in the 60-member Assembly, while the UDP’s tally fell from 12 to four.
“When an individual or a group of individuals joins a political party, we have nothing to say. However, when elected party legislators cross over to join another party for which they were not voted in the beginning, that is a tragic betrayal of the electorate,” KJCLF General Secretary Rev. Edwin Kharkongor stated..
“It is a confirmation of their (eight legislators) obsessive lust for power and profitable self gratification rather than a conscious desire to contribute to good governance advancing the common good of the electorate and the State,” he contended.
Criticising the BJP over its alleged majoritarian politics, Kharkongor alleged that the party has maintained a “supportive silence” on issues such as ethnic violence in Manipur and attacks against Christians and other minority groups
He alleged the BJP’s “One Nation, One Language, One Religion” agenda threatens the diversity and existence of indigenous and minority communities.
“In Meghalaya, the BJP is known for domination politics. Even without a clear mandate, with only two seats in the House, the BJP is seen to have dominated different aspects of the government,” the KJCLF said.
“The saffron party has now been given a false and fake sense of legitimacy by these MLAs who have succumbed on the altar of seduction and enticement. For X pieces of silver and a fleeting glitter on an alien platform, these MLAs have violated the trust of the electorate,” Kharkongor said.
Calling the defectors “bereft of any ethical and moral values” and “politician-opportunists,” the KJCLF General Secretary said it is now for the voters of those constituencies to show their political outrage. “Only time will tell,” Kharkongor added.
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