Shillong, Sept 10: The United Democratic Party’s Foundation Day celebrations on Friday, September 11, is heading for a major embarrassment.
Highly placed sources have confirmed to this reporter that majority of the disgruntled UDP MLAs will stay away from the Foundation Day function amid strong buzz that 9 of them are set to join the BJP.
In what could be the biggest political heist of the year, the 9 UDP MLAs are likely to formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party on September 12, the same day UDP strongman Jemino Mawthoh formally wears the saffron cap.
“The MLAs are unhappy with the present leadership and the direction of the party. They have decided to skip the Foundation Day as a mark of protest. The switch to BJP is almost final,” a senior leader close to the development revealed.
If the defection happens, UDP will be left crippled and the United Democratic Front will be reduced to a paper alliance.
Meanwhile, in a last-ditch damage control exercise, UDP General Secretary T. Chyne has sent an open invitation to all MLAs and party members for the celebration, adding that in case of any differences, the same could be discussed across the table.
The BJP camp is tight-lipped, but insiders admit that September 12 will be a “historic day” for the party in Meghalaya. The entry of Jemino Mawthoh plus 9 sitting MLAs will give BJP a massive boost ahead of the 2028 Assembly polls.
