Eight Meghalaya Legislators Reaffirm Switch to BJP
Eight former United Democratic Party legislators met with Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma to formalize their move to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Eight legislators formerly of the United Democratic Party met with Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma in Shillong on October 13 to physically reaffirm their decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Lahkmen Rymbui, the group had formally joined the BJP on September 23 in New Delhi, but the Speaker had been out of town during their initial attempt to communicate the transition.
During the meeting, Rymbui stated that the purpose of the visit was to reiterate what the group had previously communicated because the Speaker was out of the station at the time. The legislators were accompanied by BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai to ensure the party switch was formalized within the assembly.
This realignment strengthens the BJP's footprint in the northeastern region and alters the political landscape in Meghalaya ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. The United Democratic Party now faces the loss of eight members to the national party, forcing a shift in organizational strategies for the regional group.
