Shillong: The United Democratic Party has pulled out of the Meghalaya government, ending an association of nearly eight years after its strength in the 60-member assembly fell to a single MLA.
The party's central executive committee took the decision on Tuesday, a day after its president and lone legislator, Metbah Lyngdoh, quit the cabinet.
"The Central Executive Committee recommended that our lone MLA withdraw support from the coalition government. A letter to this effect will be sent to the chief minister," general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters.
Lyngdoh submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on October 31. He told the committee about it at Tuesday's meeting.
"Once the president and lone MLA, as a minister, has resigned, the CEC feels it will be better that we withdraw from the government," Chyne said, adding there was no pressure behind the decision.
Eight of the UDP's 12 MLAs joined the BJP in September and three moved to the NPP last month. The Speaker recognised both mergers, cutting the party's legislative strength from 12 to one.
The UDP had been part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance since it was formed in 2018, winning six seats that year and rising to 12 in 2023 to become the state's second-largest party.
The rupture traces to a cabinet reshuffle in September 2025, when Lyngdoh recommended that two senior party leaders, Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, be dropped from the ministry. The move caused resentment. Eight legislators, including Shylla, left for the BJP, and Paul Lyngdoh and two others joined the NPP. Paul Lyngdoh was sworn in as a minister on Monday.
Chyne said the government would not be affected. The NPP alone has 36 MLAs and, with the support of 11 legislators and the HSPDP, has the numbers to run, he said. The BJP has 10 MLAs in the House.
The party will now rebuild in constituencies where it has no MLA or district council member.