Shillong, September 4: BJP Mahila Mandal Pynthorumkhrah president Saralinda Kharlukhi has criticised the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2.0 Government, describing it as “hypocritical” amid reports of possible political movement involving United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators and the BJP.

Reacting to reports that nine UDP MLAs had met senior BJP leaders in New Delhi, Kharlukhi questioned why legislators belonging to a regional party that is part of the NPP-led ruling coalition would seek discussions with the BJP’s central leadership.

“If the MDA Government is functioning properly and the coalition partners are satisfied, why should nine UDP legislators travel to Delhi and seek discussions with the BJP leadership?” she questioned.

Kharlukhi alleged that while coalition partners publicly project unity, some legislators may be exploring alternative political arrangements behind the scenes.

She said elected representatives should clarify the purpose of their reported meetings with BJP leaders instead of allowing speculation to continue.

According to media reports, the UDP legislators had raised several issues concerning Meghalaya during their reported meetings with senior BJP leaders, including matters relating to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), development projects and other long-standing demands of the State.

Reports have also suggested that the legislators met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin and the party’s Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra. However, there has been no official confirmation that the legislators have decided to leave the UDP.

Kharlukhi said that if the legislators had approached the BJP leadership to seek solutions to Meghalaya’s problems, they should make public the issues they raised and the response they received.

She also criticised what she described as the practice of using regional parties as electoral platforms and subsequently abandoning them for political power or personal advantage.

Questions MDA Government’s Performance

Kharlukhi further accused the MDA 2.0 Government of failing to fulfil several assurances made to the people.

She claimed that various sections of society, including government employees, workers, ration dealers and unemployed youth, continued to raise grievances over issues that had not been adequately addressed.

She said political leaders should be held accountable for promises made during elections and should not approach voters only when another election is approaching.

Kharlukhi also maintained that government schemes and benefits should reach deserving citizens without political discrimination.

“Government programmes belong to the people,” she said, arguing that welfare and development initiatives should not be projected as personal favours by elected representatives.

UDP Denies Reports of Defection

UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh has already rejected reports that nine party legislators are preparing to join the BJP, describing the claims as rumours and stating that he was unaware of any such decision.

Despite the denial, reports of discussions between sections of the UDP and senior BJP leaders have fuelled speculation about a possible political realignment ahead of the 2028 Meghalaya Assembly elections.

Some reports have also claimed that two other UDP legislators could move to the National People’s Party (NPP), though no formal announcement has been made.

The UDP currently has 12 legislators in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly. If nine legislators were to join the BJP and two move to the NPP, the UDP’s strength in the House would be reduced to one.

Such a development could significantly alter the political balance within the ruling coalition, although it would not immediately threaten the MDA Government, with the NPP currently having 33 legislators and a majority on its own in the House.

The BJP has two legislators, while the UDP has 12. The ruling MDA coalition has a reported strength of 51 legislators.

If nine UDP MLAs were to join the BJP, the BJP’s strength would rise to 11, potentially making it the second-largest constituent of the ruling alliance and significantly increasing its influence ahead of the 2028 elections.

There have also been reports that four of the five Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators could be considering a move to the BJP, although these reports too remain unconfirmed.

Final Decision Rests With BJP Central Leadership

State BJP leaders have indicated that any proposal concerning the induction of legislators from another party would ultimately require a decision by the party’s central leadership.

Kharlukhi said she would abide by whatever decision was taken by the BJP’s national leadership, while maintaining that anyone seeking to join the party should respect its ideology, organisational discipline and leadership.

The reports have intensified political speculation in Meghalaya, with attention now focused on whether the reported discussions could eventually lead to defections or a larger political realignment.

For now, however, the reported move remains unconfirmed, with no formal announcement from the legislators concerned, the UDP or the BJP leadership.