Shillong: Draison Kharshiing officially joined the BJP on Tuesday. The former Nartiang MLA brought over 200 supporters with him to the party state office in Shillong. The group includes workers who previously backed the Voice of the People Party and the National People’s Party. This move shifts the political tide in West Jaintia Hills.
Kharshiing holds a long history in Meghalaya politics. He served in the Legislative Assembly from 2003 to 2008. Before that, he held three consecutive terms as an MDC from 1989 to 2004. BJP officials welcomed him and his base into the fold.
The BJP continues to grow its ranks. Eight former United Democratic Party legislators recently signed on with the party as well. These additions significantly increase the party strength in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The group prepares for upcoming political battles across the state.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 10:00am
The recent recruitment drive shifts the internal math of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance. The BJP has jumped from two seats to 10, making it the second largest force in the 60 member House. The United Democratic Party, previously the senior partner, has slumped to four seats. The eight former UDP legislators who fueled this shift have already filed a merger letter with the Assembly, though the Speaker has yet to issue a final ruling on the legality of the move.
Despite the change in numbers, leadership from both camps insists the government is stable. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong of the NPP dismissed rumors of a potential merger between the two parties, stating, "It is 101 percent. 33 NPP MLAs are in that. We don’t have any misunderstanding and there is no one also who intends to come out of the NPP party." He further clarified that there are no ongoing talks regarding an expanded Cabinet share for the BJP.
BJP legislature party leader Sanbor Shullai backed this sentiment, noting that central leadership ordered his party to stay the course with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Shullai refuted claims that any state level leader has the authority to negotiate a merger, and he confirmed that BJP MLAs plan to meet with the Chief Minister soon to coordinate on constituency issues.
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