November 3: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has formally withdrawn its support from the Conrad K. Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-II) government. The decision was taken at the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Tuesday.
The move comes after a series of defections reduced the UDP’s strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly from 12 MLAs to just one. The party had emerged as the second-largest political force in the state after the 2023 Assembly elections.
In September 2026, eight UDP legislators defected and merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The crisis deepened when three more MLAs joined the National People’s Party (NPP), led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
UDP president and its sole remaining MLA, Metbah Lyngdoh, resigned from the Cabinet on October 31. He had been handling key portfolios, including Power, Textiles, Water Resources and Taxation.
UDP general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne said there was no justification for the party to continue supporting the MDA-II government after its lone MLA resigned from the Cabinet. Following the CEC meeting, he said the party had unanimously decided to sit in the Opposition.
The party will now focus on rebuilding its grassroots organisational structure and independently raising issues concerning public interest.
