States » EastPosted at: Oct 23 2026 9:53PM


UDP reduced to lone legislator in Meghalaya as Speaker okays NPP merger

Raymond Kharmujai
Shillong, Oct 23 (UNI) In a decisive blow to Meghalaya’s regional political landscape, the United Democratic Party (UDP) has suffered a near-total wipeout in the Assembly after Speaker Thomas Sangma formally approved the merger of the three remaining UDP legislators with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
In his order issued on Friday, the Speaker validated the induction of former UDP legislators Paul Lyngdoh (West Shillong), Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (Mawkyrwat), and Nujorki Sungoh (Mowkaiaw) into the NPP foldunder Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule.
This legal confirmation marks the second wave of defections to hit the UDP—which was the second-largest party with 12 legislators after the 2023 Assembly elections—leaving Metbah Lyngdoh, a cabinet minister in the Conrad Sangma-led ministry, as its sole remaining legislator.
Speaker Sangma said that the three members constituted not less than two-thirds of the UDP Legislature Party, satisfying the strength requirement under Paragraph 4(2) of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.
He noted that the UDP, as the original political party in Meghalaya, had decided to merge with the NPP through a resolution on October 17.
The three legislators submitted a merger petition to the Speaker on October 19, following which he directed them to personally verify the contents of the communication.
Two of the three legislators, Lyngdoh and Tongkhar, appeared before the Speaker on the same day, verified the contents, and reaffirmed their decision.
Upon examination of the matter and after being satisfied that the decision was voluntary, the Speaker accepted and recognised the merger.
Sangma also directed that the three legislators be allotted seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly as members of the NPP.
On October 16, the Speaker had recognised the merger of eight members of the UDP Legislature Party with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), -- a move that had depleted the UDP's strength down to four.
Those eight UDP legislators are Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Pius Marwein, Balajiedkupar Synrem, Ollan Sing Suiñ, Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah, and Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah.
With Speaker Sangma recognising the new merger, the strength of the NPP has increased from 33 to 36 in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly.
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