States » EastPosted at: Sep 17 2026 11:00PM


Amit Shah has ‘finalised’ entry of rebel UDP MLAs of Meghalaya into BJP, says Hek

Shillong, Sep 17 (UNI) At least eight of the 12 United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators are set to shift allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that will make the party, which currently has only a couple of legislators, the second-largest party in the Meghalaya Assembly.
“It is certain now that eight UDP legislators will be joining the BJP in Meghalaya. We are hoping that one more UDP legislator will join us, thus bringing the total number of legislators switching over to the BJP to nine,” senior BJP legislator Alexander Laloo Hek told UNI on Thursday.
If sources are to be believed, the ninth UDP member, planning to join the rebels' bandwagon, is none other than former Tourism Minister and Working President of the UDP, Paul Lyngdoh.
“The UDP legislators are only waiting for the BJP central leadership to finalise the date and time to welcome them into the BJP,” Hek said, confirming that union Home Minister Amit Shah has finalised the entry of eight UDP legislators into the BJP fold.
Hek, the first and longest-serving BJP legislator in Meghalaya and the North-Eastern states, had recently briefed union Home Minister and BJP second-in-command Amit Shah on the political development in the state.
Former UDP minister Kyrmen Shylla confirmed that he, along with other party legislators, will be joining the BJP once the central BJP leadership finalises the date for their joining. The eight UDP legislators have decided to join the BJP after Amit Shah assured to address their demands before the 2028 assembly elections.
Their major demands include constitutional recognition of the Khasi language, issues relating to coal mining, relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to another place in Shillong, and implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).
Hek affirmed that the BJP would “fully back” the ‘rebel’ UDP legislators' key demands, including implementation of the MRSSA and inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, which, he said, were “genuine issues” for the state.
Reacting to speculation regarding power-sharing and the post of the Deputy Chief Minister, Hek, a former minister himself, emphasised that such decisions remain the prerogative of the Chief Minister and depend on the wisdom of the BJP’s national leadership.
Hek also expressed firm confidence that a BJP-led government would be formed in Meghalaya by 2028.
“Our goal is not merely to be a participant in Meghalaya’s politics, but to provide strong, stable, and accountable leadership through a government of our own, rooted in the aspirations and interests of the people of Meghalaya,” the veteran BJP leader reiterated.
Both the UDP and the BJP are allies in the NPP-led MDA 2.0 government. The NPP is commanding a majority with 33 MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly.
At present, the regional party, UDP, is the second largest party in the state Assembly with 12 legislators.
If the merger of the eight UDP legislators with the BJP goes through within the ambit of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, it will propel the BJP to a 10-seat tally, replacing the UDP as the second-largest party in the Assembly.
Interestingly, UDP President Metbah Lyngdoh, a cabinet minister in Conrad Sangma-led ministry, maintained that the party remains “intact”.
"For me, I consider it like this: it is neither true nor false. So it is half truth, I should say,” Lyngdoh said, describing the reports of the eight UDP legislators as “speculation”.
Moreover, he said that his party legislators had not made their intentions clear on whether or when they would join another political party.
“So far from them also, they have not been able to be very clear whether they will join today, join tomorrow or not. So let’s wait for the time only,” the UDP president said.
UNI RRK NST MCR
Tags: #Amit Shah has ‘finalised’ entry of rebel UDP MLAs of Meghalaya into BJP# says Hek
More News

Bihar launches Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign across districts

17 Sep 2026 | 11:56 PM

Patna, Sept 17 (UNI) The ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2026’ campaign was launched across Bihar today, with district administrations in Gopalganj, Sheohar and Bhagalpur organising awareness programmes, rallies and community activities to promote cleanliness, waste management and public participation.

see more..

Myanmar national held with 50,500 meth tablets in Mizoram

17 Sep 2026 | 11:17 PM

Aizawl, Sep 17 (UNI) A Myanmar national was arrested with 50,500 methamphetamine tablets weighing 5.5 kg in Mizoram’s Champhai district after a joint operation by the state Excise and Narcotics department and Assam Rifles, an official said on Thursday.

see more..

Amit Shah has ‘finalised’ entry of rebel UDP MLAs of Meghalaya into BJP, says Hek

17 Sep 2026 | 11:00 PM

Shillong, Sep 17 (UNI) At least eight of the 12 United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators are set to shift allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that will make the party, which currently has only a couple of legislators, the second-largest party in the Meghalaya Assembly.

see more..

Kolkata Municipal Corporation resumes food safety drives in the city

17 Sep 2026 | 10:44 PM

Kolkata, Sep 17 (UNI) After a hiatus of about a week, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Thursday resumed its intensified food safety drive, carrying out zone-wise inspections across the city.

see more..

Bengal fox added to West Bengal’s wildlife compensation list

17 Sep 2026 | 10:35 PM

Purulia, Sep 17 (UNI) In a first for West Bengal, the state government has included the Bengal fox in its wildlife compensation framework, extending financial assistance and employment support to the family of a person who dies in a fox attack.

see more..