Shillong, Aug 29: Meghalaya’s politics is heading to Delhi for a second time.
The second round of meeting between UDP and BJP is slated in New Delhi on August 30, where nine UDP legislators are expected to seal their switch to the BJP. Sources say the five TMC MLAs are also in advanced talks with the BJP and may follow soon, though not on the same day. TMC in Meghalaya, however, remains tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying the move, which has only fuelled the buzz.
If both switches materialise, it will be the biggest defection since the 2023 elections and will turn the BJP from a two-member fringe player into a 16-member second largest party in the 60-member House.
Right now, the MDA government has 51 MLAs — NPP 33, UDP 12, BJP 2, HSPDP 2 and two Independents — while the opposition has nine, five from TMC and four from VPP. After the UDP group of nine moves, BJP alone will have eleven and UDP will be left with three. Once the five TMC MLAs join, BJP’s tally will go to sixteen, TMC will be wiped out in the Assembly, the MDA’s strength will rise to 56 and the opposition will be reduced to just the four VPP MLAs.
Legally the move is protected. The anti-defection law needs two-thirds for a valid merger. For UDP that number is eight out of twelve and nine are moving, for TMC it is four out of five and all five are set to move, allowing them to claim a full merger of the legislature party before Speaker Thomas A Sangma.
The fallback for Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is comfortable but complicated. His NPP has 33 MLAs on its own against the majority mark of 31, so the government does not fall. What falls is the old power balance. The BJP, which currently has only one minister in A L Hek, will demand three to four cabinet berths and a Deputy Chief Minister’s post. The three UDP MLAs left with party president Metbah Lyngdoh will be left to fight for the party symbol before the Election Commission, while a silent TMC stares at a complete washout.
Delhi will decide tomorrow whether Meghalaya’s map turns deeper saffron.
