At least eight United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators, including a cabinet minister, are reportedly preparing to join the BJP, a move that could significantly alter the political equations within the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance-II (MDA-II) government and take the BJP from its present strength of two MLAs into double digits.
The development gained momentum after senior BJP leader and former cabinet minister A.L. Hek met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and discussed the political situation in Meghalaya and the road ahead for the party.
Hek did not disclose the number of MLAs who may switch sides, when the move could take place or how many ministerial berths might be involved. “I had the privilege of meeting Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji and having a detailed discussion on the political situation in Meghalaya and the road ahead,” he told reporters after the meeting.
Party sources, however, claimed that the UDP group was seeking five cabinet berths against the two it currently holds, including a Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Some of the dissident legislators could also be accommodated in the ministry after joining the BJP, the sources said.
The BJP currently has two MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly. If eight UDP legislators join the BJP through a legally recognised merger, the two-thirds threshold under the anti-defection law would be met. This would take the BJP into double digits and could make it the second-largest partner in the MDA-II government after the NPP, while leaving the UDP with four MLAs.
Sources said there were also indications that more legislators could join the BJP besides the eight. The legislators are also reportedly seeking a “Special Package” for Meghalaya as part of the negotiations.
Hek, who has been meeting senior BJP leaders and ministers in Delhi, said the party saw a growing political space in Meghalaya and an opportunity to build a strong, credible and independent political force in the state.
“Our goal is not merely to be a participant in Meghalaya’s politics, but to provide strong, stable and accountable leadership through a government of our own, rooted in the aspirations and interests of the people of Meghalaya,” Hek said.
He added that he had sought Shah’s guidance, encouragement and support as the BJP worked to strengthen its organisation across the state, earn the confidence of the people and eventually work towards forming its own government in Meghalaya.
“The political landscape is changing, and the coming days will be decisive,” Hek said, adding that the party was prepared to seize the opportunity with determination and discipline.
Hek had also hoped to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi but could not do so because of the BRICS summit. He is scheduled to return to Shillong on Saturday morning.
The reported move, however, has not been formally acknowledged by the UDP leadership. Party leaders have maintained at different stages that the legislature party remains intact and that earlier meetings with Amit Shah were focused on issues concerning Meghalaya rather than a possible merger.
The uncertainty deepened after Mawsynram MLA Ollan Sing Suin confirmed that an eight-member group was negotiating with the BJP and could join the party if its demands were accepted.
Speaking after the UDP Central Executive Committee meeting, Suin said the eight legislators had placed five demands before the BJP’s central leadership and that “anything can happen” if those demands were met. He described the initiative as an “eight-member mission”.
The demands include inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, lifting restrictions on coal mining in Meghalaya, relocation of the Harijan community from Them Iew Mawlong, resolution of issues relating to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), and implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.
Suin said the group was primarily concerned with these issues and ruled out discussions on ministerial positions. He said the demands had already been raised by civil society organisations and taken up by the state Assembly, which had passed a resolution seeking the inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule.
He also confirmed that negotiations with the BJP were already underway. Regarding the group’s Delhi visit, Suin said some members had travelled to the national capital while he remained in his constituency and that the matter was discussed after their return.
Asked whether Friday’s meeting could be his last as a UDP MLA, Suin did not rule out the possibility, saying political circumstances could change within a day. He cited former Khasi leader J.J.M. Nichols Roy’s decision to join the Congress and the subsequent Sixth Schedule arrangement, suggesting that political decisions could be justified if they secured benefits for the people.
Other UDP legislators declined to comment.
If the reported switch takes place, the MDA-II government is unlikely to face an immediate threat to its survival, as the NPP has 33 MLAs and enjoys a majority on its own. The major change would instead be within the coalition, with the BJP potentially replacing the UDP as the second-largest partner.
For the UDP, the move could represent a major organisational setback. The party entered the current Assembly with 12 legislators and could be reduced to a much smaller group if two-thirds of its MLAs leave.
For the BJP, the possible influx of UDP legislators could mark a significant expansion of its political footprint in Meghalaya and provide a stronger platform ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
