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Politics
Meghalaya Speaker Validates Merger of Eight UDP MLAs into BJP, Raising Party's Seats to Ten
✍️ India Today NE
🗓 18 Oct 2026, 04:01 AM
👁 15
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly speaker has officially recognized the defection of eight United Democratic Party legislators to the Bharatiya Janata Party, taking BJP’s strength in the house to ten members.
Meghalaya’s legislative assembly speaker formally acknowledged the transfer of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The recognition makes the BJP’s tally rise to ten members in the 60‑seat house.
The shift alters the balance of power in the state assembly, where the ruling coalition previously relied on a narrow margin. With ten seats, the BJP emerges as a more significant opposition force, though it remains short of a majority.
The UDP, which lost the eight MLAs, has seen its representation shrink, prompting speculation about its future role in Meghalaya politics. The speaker’s decision follows procedural norms for party switches under the anti‑defection law.
State political analysts note that the merger could influence upcoming legislative debates and may affect coalition dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.
The shift alters the balance of power in the state assembly, where the ruling coalition previously relied on a narrow margin. With ten seats, the BJP emerges as a more significant opposition force, though it remains short of a majority.
The UDP, which lost the eight MLAs, has seen its representation shrink, prompting speculation about its future role in Meghalaya politics. The speaker’s decision follows procedural norms for party switches under the anti‑defection law.
State political analysts note that the merger could influence upcoming legislative debates and may affect coalition dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.