Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who also leads the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), has dismissed rumors regarding a potential political realignment between legislators of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sangma asserted that such a shift would not destabilize the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-II) government. His comments come amid ongoing discussions about the political landscape in the state.
Responding to reports that several UDP MLAs were weighing a move to the BJP, Sangma said he had no information on the reported development beyond media reports. The Chief Minister insisted that the government is stable and would not be affected by political changes within either party. The political intrigue has also deepened following the recent meeting between UDP legislators and Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah. Sangma’s comments indicate that the government is not treating the speculation as an immediate threat to the coalition’s stability. Deputy Chief Minister and NPP state president Prestone Tynsong also dismissed the speculation.
The UDP with 12 MLAs is a constituent of the NPP-led MDA-II government in Meghalaya. In the 60-member House, Conrad Sangma’s NPP has 33 MLAs. The UDP and BJP, who are partners in the government, have 12 and two MLAs respectively. Four other MLAs also support the Sangma government, taking the coalition tally to 51.
“We are still in the dark about it,” he said, adding that the government would assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action if any political change actually took place. The UDP, however, said the discussions centred on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and other issues concerning Meghalaya. Sangma said any political movement involving the UDP or BJP would be assessed only if it materialised, maintaining that the government remained stable despite the ongoing speculation. Responding to questions on whether a possible movement of UDP MLAs towards the BJP could impact the NPP-led government, Tynsong said the ruling party’s numbers were strong enough to ensure stability.
