Shillong: United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh has forcefully dismissed ongoing speculation suggesting that a significant faction of the party's legislators could potentially defect to the BJP, asserting unequivocally that all 12 UDP MLAs remain firmly committed to the regional political formation.
Direct Contact and Media Speculation
Lyngdoh stated that he personally reached out to every single legislator within the party ranks and confirmed that none of them had expressed any intentions of switching political sides. He clarified that the reports concerning a possible merger were entirely speculative in nature and were things he had only encountered through media channels. Emphasizing his direct approach, he noted that his conversations with the MLAs were conducted personally rather than through third parties, and none indicated any inclination to join the BJP.
Clarifying Delhi Visits and Official Meetings
The UDP leader also dismissed claims that a contingent of nine party MLAs had traveled to Delhi specifically to negotiate a political merger with the BJP leadership. According to his account, such assertions lacked any factual backing and failed to reflect the true internal dynamics of the party. Detailing his own schedule, Lyngdoh explained that he remained stationed in Shillong throughout the week, traveling to Delhi solely on the previous Monday to attend an official program addressing matters related to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
While acknowledging that nine UDP legislators had indeed met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lyngdoh clarified that the discussions centered strictly around proposed amendments to the FCRA, and the interaction was subsequently misinterpreted or portrayed as a political realignment exercise.
Addressing Travel Rumors and Leadership Unity
Addressing further rumors alleging that UDP legislators were staying in Guwahati and Kolkata to conduct backroom talks with BJP leaders, Lyngdoh provided specific details to counter the claims. He stated that Pius Marwein, Balajied Synrem, Kyrmen Shylla, and Shynshar Lyngdoh had traveled to Kolkata on Saturday evening purely for personal reasons rather than any political agenda. He further pointed out that legislators such as B Kurbah, Olan Lyng Suin, and Lahkmen Rymbui were present in Shillong.
The UDP president additionally brushed aside allegations of internal discord or dissatisfaction regarding his leadership following recent political developments, noting that his direct discussions with party members revealed no such concerns. The speculation had initially intensified following his induction into the Meghalaya Cabinet alongside the omission of Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, though Metbah Lyngdoh firmly ruled out any internal attempts to fracture the party. Concluding his remarks, he urged media outlets to exercise greater diligence and independently verify claims before publishing political reports.
