Jemino Mawthoh joins BJP as speculation grows over UDP MLAs' switch in Meghalaya
Former Meghalaya MLA Jemino Mawthoh joined the BJP on Saturday, fuelling speculation that up to eight of the UDP's 12 MLAs may follow him.
Former Meghalaya MLA and United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Jemino Mawthoh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Shillong on Saturday, a development that has intensified speculation about a larger shift of UDP legislators towards the saffron party.
Mawthoh had quit the UDP in May. His induction into the BJP comes amid indications that at least eight of the regional party's 12 MLAs could cross over, a move that would raise the BJP's tally in the 60-member Assembly from two to ten and make it the second-largest party in the House.
The speculation gained ground after six UDP MLAs stayed away from the party's Central Executive Committee meeting in Shillong on Friday. Three others acknowledged that they were in talks with the BJP.
Meghalaya-based publications, citing unnamed party leaders, reported that three UDP legislators — Cabinet Minister Lakhmen Rymbui, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Ollan Sing Suin — told the Central Executive Committee that their next move would hinge on whether the BJP accepted their demand. The three, however, said they had no differences with the UDP leadership and that any decision to switch parties would be taken in the best interest of their constituencies and the State.
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh and other party leaders have maintained that the party's legislators remain united.
Both the UDP and the BJP are constituents of the National People's Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. The NPP has 33 MLAs, two more than the simple majority mark in the 60-member Assembly, while the UDP has 12 and the BJP two.
A merger of eight UDP legislators, if it materialises, would fall within the ambit of the anti-defection law.
Senior Meghalaya BJP leader and MLA Alexander Laloo Hek declined to say how many UDP legislators would cross over or when. He said that with two seats the BJP currently holds one Cabinet berth, and that the party should demand more berths after a possible increase in its numbers.