Meghalaya minister Lahkmen Rymbui BJP move has followed discussions held over several weeks, with Rymbui saying the decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party was not sudden. Rymbui joined the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday along with seven other United Democratic Party MLAs.
The eight legislators were inducted at the BJP headquarters in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra. The move changes the political strength of both parties in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly.
Lahkmen Rymbui BJP move followed talks
Rymbui said discussions about the move had been continuing for some time. He rejected the suggestion that the decision came without prior planning.
“This is not something that happened suddenly. Discussions have been going on for some time,” Rymbui said at a joint press conference, according to reports.
He said the legislators wanted to address issues specific to Meghalaya and believed that support from the BJP-led government at the Centre could help advance those concerns.
According to Rymbui, the group had also received assurances from the BJP leadership on several matters raised during their discussions.
Eight UDP MLAs join BJP
The Lahkmen Rymbui BJP move involved seven other UDP legislators: Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Pius Marwein, Balajied Kupar Synrem, Ollan Sing Suin, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah and Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah.
The induction was attended by senior BJP leaders, including Kiren Rijiju and Sambit Patra. BJP leaders welcomed the legislators and linked their decision to development in Meghalaya and the wider Northeast.
The development came after weeks of speculation about the legislators’ political plans. Earlier reports had also indicated that some UDP MLAs were in talks with BJP leaders over state-specific demands.
Issues raised during discussions
The legislators have cited several Meghalaya-specific concerns in connection with their discussions with the BJP. These include the demand for Khasi language inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Other issues include changes to provisions linked to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, relaxation of restrictions on coal mining, and the proposed relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
Rymbui said the group wanted to use its position within the BJP to raise such concerns. He also stressed Meghalaya’s distinct culture, language and religious identity while discussing the reasons behind the move.
BJP strength rises in Meghalaya
The Lahkmen Rymbui BJP development has altered the numerical balance in the Meghalaya Assembly. Before the move, the BJP had two MLAs, while the UDP had 12.
With eight UDP legislators joining the BJP, the BJP’s strength has risen to 10, while the UDP has been reduced to four MLAs. The BJP is now the second-largest party in the House after the National People’s Party.
Both the BJP and UDP are constituents of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. Therefore, the latest shift changes the strength of individual parties within the ruling alliance without, by itself, indicating a change in the state government.
Rymbui outlines his position
Rymbui said the legislators’ decision was intended to strengthen both the BJP in Meghalaya and the state’s voice on issues important to its people.
He also said the MLAs would seek to raise concerns affecting minorities from within the BJP. His comments came amid discussion about how the party’s political presence fits within Meghalaya’s social and religious context.
Meanwhile, the BJP has presented the induction as part of its broader expansion in the Northeast. Rijiju said the legislators were influenced by development initiatives undertaken by the BJP-led government in the region.
The Lahkmen Rymbui BJP move therefore marks a significant change in Meghalaya’s Assembly numbers. However, Rymbui’s explanation makes clear that the decision followed sustained talks over political and state-specific issues, rather than an overnight shift.
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