Meghalaya minister Metbah Lyngdoh resigns as UDP loses MLAs to NPP, BJP
UDP President and cabinet minister Metbah Lyngdoh resigned after the party was reduced to a single MLA following recent defections.
Meghalaya cabinet minister Metbah Lyngdoh resigned from his position after the United Democratic Party (UDP) lost several MLAs to the National People's Party (NPP) and the BJP. Lyngdoh, who is also the President of the UDP, tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Lyngdoh stated that his decision was taken independently after assessing the prevailing political situation and recent developments within the party. He said the party’s Central Executive Committee would deliberate on these developments to determine the next course of action.
The UDP has been reduced to one MLA after three UDP MLAs joined the NPP led by Conrad Sangma on Monday. Previously, eight UDP MLAs joined the BJP on October 16.
Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma formally recognised the merger of the three legislators with the NPP. The Speaker had earlier recognised the merger of the eight UDP MLAs with the BJP under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.
With these 10 MLAs, the BJP has become the second-largest party in the Meghalaya Assembly after the NPP. Lyngdoh was the minister in charge of the power, textiles, water resources, and taxation departments.