Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and NPP national vice-president Sniawbhalang Dhar has firmly addressed floating speculations surrounding the ruling coalition, assuring that all 33 legislators of the National People's Party remain solidly together. He stated that the recent political realignment, which saw eight UDP MLAs merging with the BJP, has in no way compromised the stability of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
Clarification on New Delhi Visit and Rumours
Addressing persistent reports about party legislators allegedly meeting BJP central leadership in New Delhi, Dhar dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated. He clarified that his recent presence in the national capital was purely aimed at attending to official state commitments alongside Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
Dhar stated that they were present in Delhi strictly for official government engagements. He directly rebutted unverified claims circulating across social media platforms which suggested that as many as 22 NPP MLAs had travelled to New Delhi. Setting the record straight, he confirmed that only three legislators had travelled for designated official assignments, and he called on media organizations to properly verify information prior to publishing unconfirmed reports.
Mathematical Impact of the UDP-BJP Shift
Commenting on the broader political ramifications of eight UDP legislators formalising their switch to the BJP, Dhar defined the move as an internal matter between those two specific political parties. He maintained that the transition does not disrupt the overall floor balance or numerical math of the ruling MDA alliance.
He explained that because both the UDP and the BJP were already constituent members of the ruling MDA coalition, the migration of legislators from one party to another essentially represents a shift between coalition partners rather than a loss of government support. He noted that every political organization naturally strives to strengthen its organizational presence, and therefore such shifts do not damage the operational structure of the state administration.
Historical Context and Strength Comparisons
Highlighting the cohesiveness within the NPP, Dhar emphasized that the top executive leadership comprising Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, and himself continues to function seamlessly without any internal divisions.
To put the current numerical strength into perspective, Dhar recalled that during the NPP's initial tenure governing Meghalaya between 2018 and 2023, the party managed the administration with a legislative tally of just 19 MLAs. Comparing that past mandate with the present tally of 33 legislators, he pointed out that the current government enjoys a far stronger position, ensuring complete stability for the rest of its term.
