Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra welcomed all eight MLAs into the BJP during a press conference. Rijiju also explained why the legislators had decided to leave the UDP and join the BJP.
“We welcome eight MLAs of the Meghalaya Assembly into the BJP family. They were earlier associated with the UDP, which is a prominent regional party. Over the last 12 years, the progress and transformation witnessed in the Northeast and Meghalaya under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Narendra Modi’s heartfelt connect with the people of the Northeast, and the way the BJP has changed the politics of development in the Northeast have all deeply influenced these eight MLAs and their view of the work being done by Prime Minister Modi and the BJP-led government,” Rijiju said at the press conference.
The eight UDP MLAs who have joined the BJP are Lakmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Myralborn Syiem, Matthew Kurbah, Olon Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem and Sinsar Lyngdoh Thabah.
During the event, Sambit Patra highlighted the political record of Lakmen Rymbui, describing him as a three-time MLA. Rymbui was elected MLA in 2008, 2018 and 2023. From 2018 to 2023, he served as a minister handling the Education, Forest and Environment, Home and Police departments. Since 2025, he has been serving as Minister for Education, Revenue and Disaster Management, and Law.
Patra also highlighted Pius Marwein, who became an MLA at the age of 35. Marwein was elected twice, in 2018 and 2023, and is currently the Chairman of the Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation.
Kyrmen Shylla has also joined the BJP. He was elected MLA twice, in 2018 and 2023, and served as the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister from 2023 to 2025.
The development follows an earlier move involving the eight UDP MLAs. On September 16, 2026, a report said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had accepted their demands in Meghalaya. Following this, the eight legislators decided to join the BJP.
The entry of the eight UDP MLAs marks a significant political development in Meghalaya and brings several legislators with previous ministerial and administrative experience into the BJP.
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