UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh resigns as Meghalaya Minister after all other MLAs joined BJP, NPP
Metbah Lyngdoh, the president of Meghalaya's United Democratic Party, has resigned as a cabinet minister. This follows a mass defection where 11 of the party's 12 MLAs joined the BJP and the NPP, leaving Lyngdoh as the party's sole legislator.
Why it matters
The mass defection significantly alters the power balance in the Meghalaya state assembly, strengthening the NPP and BJP coalition.
Shillong United Democratic Party president Metbah Lyngdoh resigned as a Minister in the Meghalaya Cabinet on Saturday (October 31, 2026), days after 11 of the party's 12 MLAs joined the BJP and the NPP, leaving him as the UDP's sole legislator in the State Assembly. Mr. Lyngdoh said that he had submitted his resignation letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma after assessing the prevailing political situation and recent developments within the party. The development followed a series of defections that saw eight of the UDP MLAs merge with the BJP in September and three others with the NPP, the Chief Minister's party, earlier this month. The Speaker recognised both mergers, reducing the UDP's strength from 12 to one. Both BJP and UDP are constituents of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance. Mr.
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