India

UDP Minister Resigns After Majority of Party MLAs Switch to BJP and NPP

By HT News Desk

Metbah Lyngdoh, president of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and a minister in the Meghalaya cabinet, resigned on Saturday after 11 of the party’s 12 legislators joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). The defections left Lyngdoh as the UDP’s only representative in the 60‑member assembly. He held the portfolios of power, textiles, water resources and taxation. In a press conference, Lyngdoh said he had submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma after assessing the political situation and recent developments within the party. He added that the UDP’s central executive committee would discuss the situation and decide on the party’s next steps in consultation with its leaders and office‑bearers. Lyngdoh rejected speculation that he had been forced to resign, stating that the decision was voluntary and not made under any pressure. The resignation followed a series of defections: eight UDP MLAs merged with the BJP in September, and three others merged with the NPP earlier this month. The Speaker recognised both mergers, reducing the UDP’s strength from 12 to one. The BJP’s strength in the assembly rose from two to 10. The UDP had won 12 seats in the 2023 Meghalaya assembly elections, making it the state’s second‑largest party. The party’s internal turmoil has been attributed to discontent over its leadership and organisational issues. The cabinet reshuffle in September 2025 saw Metbah Lyngdoh and Lahkmen Rymbui replace senior UDP leaders Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla as the party’s representatives in the state cabinet. The eight MLAs who joined the BJP were Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla, Pius Marwein, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah. The three who merged with the NPP were Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh.