UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh rejects BJP merger speculation, says all 12 MLAs remain with party United Democratic Party president Metbah Lyngdoh has dismissed speculation regarding a potential merger with the BJP, confirming that all 12 party legislators remain firmly within the regional organization. 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. What this means for you This political clarification directly impacts regional party stability and influences political calculations within the state administration. • Across India: Rumors of party splits and cross-party alignments highlight the fragile nature of regional political alliances across various states. • In Shillong: Local constituents and political observers gain clarity that the regional party remains united despite recent cabinet changes. Questions & Answers 1. Who is the president of the United Democratic Party? Metbah Lyngdoh serves as the president of the United Democratic Party (UDP). 2. How many MLAs are currently with the UDP? All 12 UDP legislators remain with the regional party. 3. Why did Metbah Lyngdoh visit Delhi? He visited Delhi for an official program concerning the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). 4. Who did the UDP legislators meet in Delhi? Nine UDP legislators met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding FCRA amendments. 5. Which MLAs traveled to Kolkata? Pius Marwein, Balajied Synrem, Kyrmen Shylla, and Shynshar Lyngdoh traveled to Kolkata. https://trendkia.com/en/meghalaya/udp-chief-metbah-lyngdoh-rejects-bjp-merger-speculation-says-all-12-mlas-remain-with-party-25704 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.