United Democratic Party president Metbah Lyngdoh has resigned from the Meghalaya Cabinet following the mass defection of 11 of his party's 12 MLAs to the BJP and NPP. This significant political shift leaves the UDP with only one legislator in the 60-member assembly, raising uncertainty about the party's future in the state's coalition government.
Metbah Lyngdoh, president of the United Democratic Party (UDP), officially resigned from the Meghalaya Cabinet on October 31, 2026. The decision comes after a turbulent period of political realignments that saw the vast majority of the party’s elected representatives defect to other political organizations. Lyngdoh, who held key ministerial portfolios including power, textiles, water resources, and taxation, submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
The political landscape in Meghalaya has shifted dramatically over the past two months. Beginning in September, eight UDP legislators aligned themselves with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and this month, another three joined the National People’s Party (NPP). With the Speaker of the Assembly formally recognizing these movements, the UDP’s strength has been reduced to a single representative—Metbah Lyngdoh himself—in the 60-member House. Conversely, these shifts have strengthened the NPP’s legislative tally to 36 seats and the BJP’s to 10.
For those monitoring the political and economic environment in the region, this event represents a major consolidation of power within the current ruling coalition, while the UDP faces an existential challenge. The party, which emerged as the second-largest legislative force following the 2023 Assembly elections, is now navigating a period of internal instability regarding its leadership and future policy direction.
The immediate consequence for the state is uncertainty regarding the UDP's continued participation in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition government. The party’s Central Executive Committee is expected to convene soon to deliberate on its strategy and its stance within the existing government structure. The stability of the state administration and potential shifts in governance priorities will depend on the outcomes of these internal discussions and any subsequent decisions made by the party's remaining leadership.