SHILLONG : The United Democratic Party (UDP) has been reduced to just one MLA in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly after Speaker Thomas A. Sangma recognised the merger of three more UDP legislators with the National People’s Party (NPP) on Friday.

The latest development marks the UDP’s second major split within a week, dealing a significant blow to the party that emerged as the second-largest party after the last Assembly elections.

On October 16, eight UDP MLAs merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reducing the party’s strength from 12 to four. With three more legislators now joining the NPP, the UDP has been left with only one MLA in the Assembly.

According to an order issued by the Assembly Secretariat, Paul Lyngdoh, MLA from West Shillong, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, MLA from Mawkyrwat, and Nujorki Sungoh, MLA from Mowkaiaw, had submitted a letter to the Speaker on October 17 informing him of their decision to merge with the NPP.

The legislators stated that they constituted not less than two-thirds of the UDP Legislature Party and fulfilled the required strength for a merger under Paragraph 4(2) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

The letter also claimed that the original UDP had passed a resolution deciding to merge with the NPP.

The three MLAs appeared personally before Speaker Thomas A. Sangma on October 19 to verify the contents of the letter and reaffirm their decision to join the NPP.

After examining the matter, the Speaker accepted the merger.

The Assembly Secretariat’s order stated that the Speaker was satisfied that the legislators had decided to merge voluntarily and of their own free will. He accordingly accepted the merger under Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule and directed that the three legislators be allotted seats as NPP members.

The latest political realignment leaves the UDP with just one representative in the Meghalaya Assembly, marking a dramatic decline in the party’s legislative strength within a short period.