United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh resigned from the Meghalaya Cabinet on Saturday, days after 11 of the party’s 12 MLAs moved to the BJP and the NPP, leaving him as its only legislator in the Assembly. Lyngdoh said he submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma after assessing the political situation and recent developments within the party.
He dismissed speculation that he was forced to step down, insisting the decision was voluntary. He had held the power, textiles, water resources and taxation portfolios.
The UDP’s Central Executive Committee will discuss the developments and decide the party’s future course in consultation with leaders and office-bearers, Lyngdoh said.
The party’s collapse came in two phases. Eight MLAs merged with the BJP in September, and three others joined the NPP, the chief minister’s party, earlier this month. The Speaker recognised both mergers, reducing the UDP’s strength in the 60-member House from 12 to one. The BJP and the UDP are both constituents of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
The eight MLAs who joined the BJP were Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla, Pius Marwein, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah. Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh merged with the NPP.
The moves take the NPP’s strength in the Assembly to 36 and the BJP’s to 10. The UDP had emerged as the second-largest party in the 2023 elections with 12 seats. The upheaval followed reported discontent within the party over leadership and organisational issues.
It also came after a September 2025 Cabinet reshuffle, in which Metbah Lyngdoh and Lahkmen Rymbui replaced senior leaders Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla as the UDP’s ministers. Both of the replaced leaders are now among those who have left the party.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/meghalaya/udp-chief-metbah-lyngdoh-quits-meghalaya-cabinet-left-as-partys-lone-mla-after-mass-defections/69565/
Category: Meghalaya,Politics,BJP,Meghalaya cabinet,Metbah Lyngdoh,MLA,NPP,UDP chief
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Publish Date: 2026-11-01 13:21:00
