Shillong: Meghalaya assembly speaker Thomas A Sangma said on Tuesday that the proposed merger of eight UDP MLAs with BJP remained under examination.Speaking after meeting the legislators, Sangma said his office had not “formally recognised” them as BJP MLAs and was awaiting legal opinions and completion of procedural requirements.“The speaker’s office is still examining it, and I am awaiting legal opinions from different sources. Therefore, I will not say that they are BJP MLAs, as the matter is still under consideration,” he said.Sangma added that UDP submitted a petition seeking the disqualification of the eight legislators. However, the petition contained omissions and deficiencies, following which UDP leadership and the four remaining MLAs were given 10 days to rectify and resubmit it. The deadline expires on Wednesday.The speaker said deciding the disqualification petition was his “immediate priority” and that it would be examined under applicable rules and constitutional provisions.The eight legislators joined BJP in Delhi on Sept 23. They are Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah.They submitted a merger letter to the assembly secretariat on Sept 25, 2026, while Sangma was on a study tour of Malta.Sangma said his office was also examining the party split and that the process was not being deliberately delayed.BJP’s strength in the 60-member assembly rose from two to 10, making it the second-largest constituent of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance after NPP.
