Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Moonlight Pariat jumped to the BJP. The six-time MDC from Jowai South brought his supporters with him into the party fold. State president Rikman G Momin led the induction ceremony. Senior party figures, including A L Hek, Sanbor Shullai, M Kharkrang, M Rapsang, and Jemino Mawthoh, watched the proceedings.
Pariat previously served as the Chief Executive Member of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council. He currently sits as an Independent member and maintained ties with the NPP-led coalition in the council. He ran for the Jowai assembly seat under the UDP banner in 2023 but lost. His move signals a major shakeup. Parties are jockeying for position before the 2028 assembly elections.
This shift follows a massive defection from the United Democratic Party. Eight UDP MLAs joined the BJP in New Delhi on September 23. That move pushed the BJP from two seats to 10 in the 60-member House. The UDP count dropped to four. Those defectors filed formal papers to merge with the BJP. Officials are now checking the documents to ensure they meet the law. Regarding the party's growth, observers note that Pariat's addition helps the "BJP's expanding organisational base in Meghalaya."
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