Shillong: Meghalaya Congress leader Manuel Badwar claims the BJP has provided no written or verbal assurance to meet the demands of eight United Democratic Party MLAs who recently jumped ship. The defectors moved to the BJP under the assumption that the party would address five primary state concerns. Badwar insists that no formal agreement exists to guarantee these promises.
Badwar stated: “UDP MLA-rangni BJP-o napna dabianirangko, BJP-ni dilgiparang, chu·sokate on·gen ine seachi ba ku·sikchi ku·rachakaba dongja. Uni gimin ia dabianirangko chu·sokatgen ine songgigrikani ba soi ka·grikani dongja.”
The eight defectors include Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah. Their list of demands includes the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act and the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule. They also seek the resumption of coal mining, the relocation of Dalit Sikh residents from Them Iew Mawlong, and minority status for the Seng Khasi and Sein Raij organizations.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma officially accepted the merger under the Tenth Schedule. This move pushes the BJP presence in the assembly from two to ten seats. Meanwhile, the UDP strength dropped from 12 to four members. Badwar questioned the political motivation behind the shift, noting that with the 2028 assembly elections approaching, the public will soon see if the move yields any tangible results for the state.
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