Shillong: The United Democratic Party faces a potential wipeout. Friday’s 29th Foundation Day serves as a high-stakes roll call for the regional outfit. Reports indicate nine of its 12 MLAs may jump to the BJP. Party president Metbah Lyngdoh could be left alone. No formal affiliation changes have been filed yet.
Discontent stems from the 2025 Cabinet reshuffle. Legislators allege broken promises regarding ministerial berths. Internal cohesion shattered. One MLA reportedly walked into a room reserved for a minister, expecting an induction that never happened. Senior leader Paul Lyngdoh admitted that "not everything is hunky-dory" regarding the party’s standing.
The Ranikor Circle of the UDP officially backed MLA Pius Marwein’s potential shift to the BJP. Their support carries five strict conditions: implementing the Inner Line Permit, amending the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act 2020, adding Khasi to the Eighth Schedule, changing the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and restarting coal mining. While the BJP is reportedly open to most terms, coal mining and the Inner Line Permit remain complex hurdles.
General secretary Titosstarwell Chyne confirmed he would support an ouster of Lyngdoh if leadership failure is proven. Chyne remains in contact with the MLAs but has received no official notice of their departure. Former general secretary Jemino Mawthoh will join the BJP on September 12. He claims talks have lasted over 15 months.
Congress leader Vincent H. Pala suggests the instability signals broader frustration with the NPP-led government. He claimed, "The bone is gone, the flesh is gone and now they are fighting to loot the public." Meanwhile, BJP sources acknowledged discussions but downplayed an imminent merger. They stressed that any move requires significant time to finalize.
The TMC maintains its ranks are intact. MLA Mizanur Rahman Kazi dismissed the ongoing talk as standard political maneuvering. All eyes turn to the party headquarters on Bomfyle Road this Friday. Attendance will dictate whether the UDP survives or dissolves into a footnote of state politics.
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