Meghalaya minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh resigned from the state Cabinet on Saturday, marking a significant turn of events following a wave of defections within his party. The resignation comes only days after 11 of the party’s 12 legislators chose to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). Following these departures, Lyngdoh remains the sole representative of the UDP in the state legislative assembly.
Addressing the media during a press conference on Saturday, Lyngdoh confirmed that he had formally submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. He stated that the decision was reached after a careful assessment of the current political situation and the recent developments that have fractured the party's strength. Lyngdoh, who previously managed the portfolios of power, textiles, water resources, and taxation, emphasized that his exit was a voluntary act.
Responding to questions regarding the circumstances of his departure, Lyngdoh clarified that no external pressure influenced his choice. “The decisions we have taken today were not made under any form of pressure. We will always ensure that our decisions are well-considered and the right ones,” he told reporters. He further noted that the UDP’s central executive committee is scheduled to meet to deliberate on the party's future trajectory, promising to hold consultations with key leaders and office-bearers.
The current political crisis within the UDP stems from a series of defections that took place over the last two months. In September, eight UDP MLAs merged with the BJP, and earlier this month, three additional legislators opted to join the NPP. These mergers were formally recognized by the Speaker, drastically altering the power dynamics within the 60-member assembly. Consequently, the BJP’s strength in the house increased from two to 10, while the UDP, which had secured 12 seats during the 2023 assembly elections, now faces an existential crisis as it holds only a single seat.
Internal observers have pointed to long-standing discontent regarding the party's leadership and organizational framework as catalysts for the exodus. Tensions reportedly surfaced following a cabinet reshuffle in September 2025, when the party underwent a change in its ministerial representation. At that time, Metbah Lyngdoh and Lahkmen Rymbui had replaced senior UDP leaders Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla in the state Cabinet.
Paul Lyngdoh, one of the MLAs who defected to the NPP, previously indicated that internal divisions and a perceived lack of mutual respect within the party influenced his decision to leave. Rejecting the notion that his exit was solely due to the loss of a ministerial berth, he remarked, “That respect I did not get in the UDP.”
The UDP and the NPP, alongside the BJP, remain part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), which is currently headed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. As the party grapples with the loss of nearly its entire legislative contingent, the central executive committee’s upcoming sessions are expected to determine whether the UDP can reorganize its base or if the recent events signify a permanent decline in its political influence within the state.
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