SHILLONG, OCT 03: In a major political gain for the BJP in Jaintia Hills, veteran leader and former JHADC Chief Executive Member Moonlight Pariat joined the party on Saturday, days after eight UDP MLAs switched to the saffron camp.
Pariat, a six-time MDC, was formally inducted in the presence of BJP state president Rikman G Momin, cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai and Pynthorumkhrah MLA AL Hek.
Addressing party workers after his induction, Pariat said his decision to join the BJP was driven by a mission to empower the Autonomous District Councils, which he claimed have been rendered toothless.
“I am thankful to the state leaders for accepting me into the BJP. We will work hand in hand with strong teamwork to push the party forward,” he said.
Stating that his ideology matches that of the BJP, he said, “We are here not to serve ourselves, but to serve the people and humanity. That is why people have elected me six times consecutively.”
The 64-year-old leader, who has spent 27 years in the JHADC, said Para 12A of the Sixth Schedule has tied the hands of all three ADCs in Meghalaya.
“I tried to do a lot for the people of Jaintia Hills, but our hands are tied. Para 12A says if the District Council makes a law and the state government makes a similar law, the law of the state legislature will prevail. So we are not free to do anything despite having many plans,” Pariat said.
He said the BJP being in power in Delhi gave him hope to raise the issue at the national level.
“I joined the BJP because the party is in Delhi. I want to apprise the central leaders of the problems faced by the councils. For 25 years we have been chasing the amendment to the Sixth Schedule. We discussed the Centre’s proposal in Meghalaya and inserted many things, but it failed because no one was there to fight for it in Delhi,” he said.
Pariat lamented that MDCs have been left without any development funds since the 2025 elections.
“It has been almost two years since the MDC elections, but not a single paisa of any scheme has been given. It is meaningless to be an MDC without funds,” he said, contrasting Meghalaya’s ADCs with those in Assam.
“Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Councils get not less than Rs 500 crore a year each. In Meghalaya we get a minimum of Rs 200 crore, and that too irregularly. Under the 15th Finance Commission (2020-2025), we received the first installment of 2021 back then, and the second installment of the same year only now, in 2026. We lost four years of schemes,” he said.
He compared the Sixth Schedule to “a father buying a vehicle for his son without fuel.”
Pariat also urged the BJP to take up the coal mining ban issue, pointing out what he called selective action against Meghalaya.
“The NGT banned coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014 and it has been 12 years. But the same Kupli river flows to Dima Hasao in Assam, where coal is also mined. The Dima Hasao Students’ Union filed a case saying Meghalaya polluted the NEEPCO project. The same river, both sides are digging coal, but only Meghalaya is banned. Nobody has apprised Delhi of this,” he said.
“Even the Supreme Court in 2019 said it was an ‘inescapable conclusion’ that no one had the authority to impose the ban. There is a chance to get the ban lifted,” he added.
Ending his speech with a political pitch, Pariat said, “I appeal to all leaders here to work together so that in 2028, the BJP will rule the state.”
As per his bio-data, Pariat, a resident of Dulong, Jowai, was the first Chairman of Jowai Municipal Board in 1996, won as MDC from Jowai Central in 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and from Jowai South in 2014 and 2025, and has served as EM, Chairman and CEM of JHADC.
