Shillong, Oct 17: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma has formally recognized the merger of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to an official notification issued on October 16, 2026, the merger was approved under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The eight legislators involved in the merger include Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah.
In a concurrent decision, Speaker Sangma dismissed a disqualification petition submitted by the UDP against the defecting lawmakers.
Following this realignment, the UDP’s strength in the Assembly has dropped to 4 members, while the BJP’s presence has expanded to 10.
