GUWAHATI/SHILLONG: Former Meghalaya MLA Jemino Mawthoh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday in the presence of state BJP president Rikman Momin and senior legislator Alexander Laloo Hek, officials said. The development coincides with talks by a group of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators seeking to enter the saffron party, a switch that would alter the balance of power within the Assembly.
Why the move matters
Mawthoh, who had left the UDP in May, told reporters he had been receiving approaches from the BJP since 2021 but only decided to join after consulting his supporters. Party sources and local media reports indicated that a delegation of eight UDP MLAs are in discussions with the BJP leadership in New Delhi over a possible merger or defection.
The UDP currently has 12 MLAs in the Meghalaya Assembly and is a key constituent of the National People's Party (NPP)-led government. The BJP at present has 2 MLAs in the state. If the eight UDP legislators complete the move, the BJP's strength would rise to 10 MLAs, making it the second-largest party in the Assembly after the NPP, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Charter of demands shaping negotiations
According to reports, the group of eight legislators has presented a charter of demands to the BJP's central leadership as part of negotiations. Key items in the demand list include:
- Inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
- Lifting restrictions on coal mining in Meghalaya
- Implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) aimed at addressing illegal migration
Ollan Sing Suin described the move as an “eight-member mission” and said they would join the BJP if the party accepted their charter of demands.
Media reports said three of the eight MLAs, including Ollan Sing Suin, attended a UDP Central Executive Committee meeting held on Friday to deliberate the situation. Suin indicated the eight legislators would join the BJP should their conditions be accepted.
Political consultations and high-level talks
Senior UDP legislator Alexander Laloo Hek met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday. Officials said the discussion covered the political situation in Meghalaya and appeared to be part of the BJP’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in the northeastern states, including Mizoram and Sikkim.
Within the UDP, the developments prompted a Central Executive Committee meeting to assess the rumblings. Party leaders are reported to be weighing responses and considering how to retain cohesion amid the overtures from the BJP.
What the numbers would mean
Changes in party strength could affect coalition dynamics in the state. The table below summarises the current assembly tallies as reported in local coverage and the potential numbers if the eight UDP MLAs join the BJP.
| Party | Current MLAs | If eight UDP MLAs join BJP |
|---|---|---|
| National People's Party (NPP) | Largest party (exact count not specified in reports) | Unaffected |
| United Democratic Party (UDP) | 12 | 4 (if eight leave) |
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 2 | 10 |
Broader context
Political realignments in Meghalaya have periodic repercussions for governance and policy, particularly on issues that stir regional sentiment such as language recognition, resource extraction and migration. The UDP's demands — Khasi language inclusion, coal mining policy changes and MRSSA implementation — reflect long-standing local priorities that carry cultural and economic weight across the state.
For the BJP, gaining additional MLAs would strengthen its bargaining position ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections and help consolidate its footprint in the Northeast. Party leaders have for some time pursued expansion in the region through both electoral campaigning and overtures to regional political figures.
Official positions and next steps
There was no immediate confirmation of final decisions from the party high commands. Mawthoh’s formal induction into the BJP was completed on Saturday; the proposed entry of the eight UDP MLAs was reported to be contingent on acceptance of their demands by the BJP central leadership.
Local observers say developments will be monitored closely in Shillong and New Delhi in the coming days, with possible implications for ministry allocations, coalition arrangements and the policy agenda of the state government.
