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Politics
Eight Meghalaya UDP MLAs Expected to Join BJP, Says Kirmen Shyala
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bihar
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 08:01 PM
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Kirmen Shyala announced that eight United Democratic Party legislators are set to defect to the Bharatiya Janata Party, prompting a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Meghalaya political circles were stirred on Tuesday when Kirmen Shyala, a senior leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), publicly claimed that eight of the party's legislators would switch allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The statement was made during a press briefing in Shillong, where Shyala outlined the anticipated timeline for the defections and emphasized the strategic advantage for the BJP in the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in New Delhi at the time, responded to the claim by assuring that the BJP would welcome any legislators who chose to join the party, while also emphasizing the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions governing party switches. Shah did not provide specific details about the individuals involved.
The UDP, which currently holds a significant number of seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, has historically been a regional ally of the BJP in the North-East. Analysts note that the alleged movement of eight legislators could alter the balance of power ahead of the next state elections, though they caution that formal resignations and official party admissions are still pending.
No official confirmation has yet been received from the eight legislators or from the BJP state unit. The situation remains fluid, and observers will be watching for any formal filings with the Election Commission of India in the coming weeks.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in New Delhi at the time, responded to the claim by assuring that the BJP would welcome any legislators who chose to join the party, while also emphasizing the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions governing party switches. Shah did not provide specific details about the individuals involved.
The UDP, which currently holds a significant number of seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, has historically been a regional ally of the BJP in the North-East. Analysts note that the alleged movement of eight legislators could alter the balance of power ahead of the next state elections, though they caution that formal resignations and official party admissions are still pending.
No official confirmation has yet been received from the eight legislators or from the BJP state unit. The situation remains fluid, and observers will be watching for any formal filings with the Election Commission of India in the coming weeks.