Shillong, September 24, 2026: Meghalaya politics has acquired the unmistakable aroma of tungrymbai—fermented soybeans cooked with black sesame and ginger. The smell may be strong enough to announce itself before the dish reaches the table, but once the lid is lifted, there is no hiding what has been cooking underneath.
The latest political pot began simmering in earnest with the decision of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on September 23. The move reduced the UDP’s strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly from 12 to four, while the BJP’s tally rose from two to 10.
The eight legislators—Lahkmen Rymbui, Kyrmen Shylla, Olan Sing Suin, Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah, Mayralborn Syiem, Pius Marwein, Synshar Thabah and Balajied Kupar Synrem—were formally inducted at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
And just like tungrymbai, the political aroma has travelled well beyond the kitchen.
The BJP’s expanded strength has altered the internal arithmetic of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), although the BJP and UDP remain constituents of the coalition. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has maintained that the development does not affect the stability of the MDA Government and has described the move as an internal matter involving the UDP and BJP.
The numbers themselves tell one part of the story. The political implications are another.
The BJP now has 10 MLAs, making it the second-largest party in the Assembly after the National People’s Party (NPP). The UDP, once the second-largest party with 12 legislators, is left with four.
But what exactly is cooking inside the larger MDA pot?
That is where the questions begin.
The eight legislators have cited issues of importance to Meghalaya and said discussions with the BJP leadership had been underway for some time. Among the issues reported in connection with the move are the inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule, the Them Iew Mawlong issue, coal mining and amendments concerning the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.
At the same time, reports about the movement of NPP legislators and the changing equations within the ruling alliance have added another layer of speculation. Those reports should remain just that—reports and speculation—unless the legislators or party leadership provide a clear explanation.
The bigger question is therefore not simply who has changed parties, but how the new arrangement will affect power-sharing, Cabinet representation and the relationship among the parties within the MDA.
There are already reports that the BJP could seek a larger share in the State Government following the increase in its Assembly strength. Such reports have been attributed to sources and remain subject to confirmation by the parties concerned.
For now, the political kitchen remains open.
The fire is burning.
The ingredients have changed.
The aroma is spreading from Shillong to New Delhi and back.
Whether the latest political tungrymbai settles into a new recipe or boils over into another round of realignment is something only the coming months will reveal.
In Meghalaya, as in the kitchen, everyone may pretend not to know what is being cooked. But once the lid is lifted, everyone knows there is a meal on the way.
