# Eight Out of 12 UDP Legislators Join BJP in Meghalaya

> Eight of the 12 United Democratic Party legislators in Meghalaya have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla, the lawmakers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the formal switch.

**Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-09-23 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/meghalaya-men-udp-ke-12-men-se-8-vidhayakon-ne-thama-bjp-ka-damana-36898 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Meghalaya, UDP, BJP, Kyrmen Shylla, Amit Shah, Politics

A major political shift has unfolded in Meghalaya as eight out of 12 legislators from the United Democratic Party joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The mass switch leaves the UDP with just four sitting lawmakers in the state legislative assembly. The group of crossing-over legislators was led by Khliehriat constituency MLA Kyrmen Shylla. This realignment marks a significant change in the legislative balance of the northeastern state.

## Meeting With Amit Shah and Central Leadership
Before completing the transition, the UDP lawmakers traveled to New Delhi to hold discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and senior leadership figures. Talks centered on governance priorities and future alignment in Meghalaya. Following the consultations, the eight legislators formalized their entry into the party on Wednesday, substantially expanding its legislative strength on the assembly floor.

## Weeks of Momentum Following Senior Leader Exit
The groundwork for this legislative move had been building earlier in the month. On September 12, former legislator and prominent UDP leader Dr. Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP, signaling growing internal movement within the regional outfit. With Khliehriat representative Kyrmen Shylla guiding two-thirds of the parliamentary party across the floor, the balance within the coalition dynamics in Shillong now faces an altered legislative lineup.

## What this means for you
The defection of eight legislators significantly shifts legislative power and alters regional party dynamics in Meghalaya.

- **Across India:** National parties continue to consolidate footprint and influence across northeastern legislative assemblies. The trend highlights ongoing structural challenges faced by regional organizations in retaining elected representatives.
- **In Meghalaya:** The UDP sees its legislative caucus reduced from 12 down to four members. The BJP gains substantial direct leverage inside the ruling arrangement and legislative committees.
- **For voters:** Constituencies that elected regional representatives will now be represented under a national party platform. Delivery of constituency development projects will align directly with central government programs.
- **For party equations:** Other regional partners and independent legislators now face altered floor mathematics in Shillong. Floor management and ministerial allocations will reflect the expanded strength of the legislative party.

## Why this happened
This realignment occurred due to shifting legislative alignments within the regional outfit and an effort to align closely with central governance resources. The move followed targeted consultations with senior party leaders in New Delhi.

- **Direct talks with central leaders:** A delegation guided by Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla held meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The dialogue established terms and timing for the legislative shift.
- **Preceding defection momentum:** Former MLA Dr. Jemino Mawthoh left the UDP to join the party on September 12. That exit established precedent and momentum for sitting legislators to follow suit.
- **Anti-defection threshold:** Crossing over with eight out of 12 legislators meets the two-thirds legal bar required under parliamentary anti-defection provisions. This collective threshold shields the lawmakers from immediate disqualification challenges.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How many UDP legislators switched parties in Meghalaya?
Eight out of the 12 sitting UDP legislators have crossed over to join the BJP.

### 2. Who led the group of lawmakers in this move?
The group was led by Khliehriat constituency MLA Kyrmen Shylla.

### 3. How many MLAs remain with the UDP now?
The UDP is left with four legislators in the state assembly.

### 4. Whom did the legislators meet prior to joining?
They met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and central leadership figures in New Delhi.

### 5. Which UDP leader had switched sides earlier in the month?
Former MLA and UDP leader Dr. Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP on September 12.

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