UDP legislator announces mergerwith BJP along with eight legislators

Khliehriat, Sep 16 (NPN): Former Meghalaya Minister and senior United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Kyrmen Shylla has announced that he, along with other party legislators, will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) once the central BJP leadership finalises the date for their joining. Shylla is the second legislator among the eight UDP legislators who came out publicly announcing his decision to join the saffron party.
The two-time UDP legislator representing the Khliehriat assembly constituency in East Jaintia Hills district on Wednesday held a meeting with his supporters at Byndihati where he explained his intention to join the saffron party over long-pending issues in the state. “Eight of us (UDP legislators) are confirmed to merge with the BJP, and the number could rise to nine. We are only waiting for the central BJP leadership to finalise the date of our joining,” Shylla said.
He said the eight UDP legislators had held negotiations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and BJP MP and Northeast coordinator Dr. Sambit Patra to merge with the BJP if the long-pending state grievances were met. The demands include the recognition of the Khasi language under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, the relocation of Mazhabi Sikhs and others from Them Iew Mawlong, the resolution of coal mining issues, the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), and the grant of minority status to Seng Khasi.
“In fact, the Union Home Minister had wanted us to join the BJP within four to five days after our meeting with him, but we insisted that the BJP should first concede to our demands,” Shylla said, adding that the BJP has assured them that committees would be formed and paperwork initiated on the day they joined the party to take up the demands one by one.
The UDP legislator said, he had made it clear to the BJP leadership that the legislators could walk out if the commitments made to them were not honoured.
“I have taken this decision (to join BJP) was only after the BJP leaders have given us clear-cut assurance that they will fulfil before the 2028 Assembly elections,” Shylla said.
When asked if the UDP legislators negotiated for ministerial berths in the Conrad Sangma-led ministry, Shylla, the former Excise minister, said, “There were no such discussions on that (ministerial berths), but it will be their blessing whatever they give.”
Denying any rift with the UDP or Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Shylla said, “I took this decision in the larger interest of the state and my assembly constituency. There is no opposition or hard feeling against the UDP, which gave me power and support. They should not think that I am speaking ill of the party by making this decision.” Both the UDP and the BJP are allies in the NPP-led MDA 2.0 government. The NPP is commanding a majority with 33 MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly.
At present, the regional party, UDP is the second largest party in the state Assembly with 12 legislators.
However, if the merger of the eight UDP legislators with the BJP goes through within the ambit of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, it will propel the BJP to a 10-seat tally, replacing the UDP as the second-largest party in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly.