SHILLONG : The United Democratic Party (UDP) has suspended three of its MLAs who were among the eight legislators who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the UDP’s State Parliamentary Board chaired by party president Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday, hours after the eight MLAs joined the BJP.
According to Lyngdoh, the party had issued show-cause notices to three MLAs after they publicly announced their decision to join another political party.
He said the three MLAs were given time until Wednesday to either appear personally before the State Parliamentary Board or submit their replies in writing.
However, Lyngdoh said none of the three legislators responded to the show-cause notices.
“We had given them time till today to appear in person before the State Parliamentary Board or to send their reply in writing if they wished. But none of the three members have responded to the show-cause notice,” he said.
Following this, the party decided to suspend the three MLAs until further orders.
The suspended legislators are Olan Sing Suin, MLA from Mawsynram; Kyrmen Shylla, MLA from Khliehriat; and Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah, MLA from Mawphlang.
Lyngdoh said the suspension orders had been communicated to the three MLAs in writing.
He added that the party would decide its further course of action and communicate the decision accordingly.
“The party with one voice has taken the decision to place the three members who are elected members of the UDP under suspension until further orders,” Lyngdoh said.
The suspension follows the decision of eight UDP MLAs to join the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday, marking a major change in the political composition of the UDP.