Shillong: Senior BJP leader and MLA A.L. Hek claims several sitting legislators from Garo Hills want to join the saffron party. He did not name specific parties, but indicated the interest spans across multiple political groups. Legislators face a major hurdle. The anti-defection law prevents them from moving individually.
Constitutional rules require a two-thirds majority for a party merger to avoid disqualification. This claim follows the entry of eight former United Democratic Party MLAs into the BJP. The shift bolsters the party standing in the Meghalaya Assembly.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma recently dismissed reports of internal instability. He insists his National People’s Party coalition remains solid. Sangma stated that the NPP’s 33 MLAs are "absolutely intact."
NPP sources previously whispered about a leadership change involving Garo Hills representatives. That talk has quieted down. On Tuesday, Sangma gathered his team to discuss governance. Thirty-one MLAs attended the meeting. Thomas A. Sangma and Mehtab Chandee Sangma were absent.
Cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla rejected claims of party anxiety. He called the meeting a routine governance check held every three months. He told reporters, "The NPP is stronger than before."
BJP state president Rikman G. Momin previously denied efforts to recruit NPP members. He highlighted the existing alliance between the two parties. Political watchers now look toward the 2028 Assembly elections to see if more shifts occur.
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