Eight legislators from the United Democratic Party are set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party in Meghalaya. This major political development comes after the MLAs met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. UDP MLA Kyrmen Shylla stated that the leaders received assurances regarding several key demands during the meeting.
The legislators met Amit Shah to discuss important issues affecting the state. According to Shylla, the demands include the resumption of legal coal mining in the state. Another major demand is the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The MLAs were assured that these matters would be addressed.
The United Democratic Party is currently the second-largest ally in the ruling National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance. The party currently has 12 MLAs, which includes two ministers in the government led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
If eight UDP legislators switch sides, the strength of the BJP in the 60-member assembly will increase from two to ten. This political shift occurs ahead of the upcoming 2028 Meghalaya Assembly elections.
The Meghalaya Government recently unveiled a series of key projects in Tikrikilla to boost regional development. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma inaugurated major tourism and economic infrastructure in the region. He also laid the foundation stones for new connectivity projects.
The inauguration event took place in the presence of several senior government officials and dignitaries. Chief Minister Sangma stated that connectivity remains central to the government development agenda, especially in remote and interior areas of the state.
