Shillong: Meghalaya's regional United Democratic Party (UDP) is set to lose three more MLAs, less than a month after eight of its 12 legislators joined the BJP.
On Monday, the UDP expelled Paul Lyngdoh of the West Shillong seat, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar of Mawkyrwat and Nujorki Sungoh of Mookaiaw after they submitted an application to Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma seeking to merge with the ruling National People's Party (NPP).
The Speaker said the three legislators handed over the application along with the resolutions they had adopted. "I shall seek a legal opinion and communicate my decision within the next few days," he said. He cautioned that the proposed merger of the three MLAs with the NPP would not be treated as a mere formality, even though he had recognised the earlier merger of eight UDP MLAs with the BJP. He said he needed to verify whether each legislator had agreed to the merger voluntarily, noting that Mr. Sungoh was away from the State for medical treatment.
The NPP, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, heads the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. With 10 MLAs after eight crossed over from the UDP, the BJP is the second-largest constituent of the coalition. If the Speaker recognises the fresh merger, the NPP's strength in the 60-member House will rise from 33 to 36.
UDP president and Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh, who will be the party's lone MLA once the three are admitted to the NPP, said the party decided at an emergency meeting to expel them. "With powers vested in me as president of the UDP, I hereby expel the three of you from the primary membership of the party, with effect from today," he said in a letter addressed to the trio.
The three legislators are expected to join the NPP later this week. The Speaker said this was the fifth merger application received during his tenure.