Shillong, Sep 23 (PTI) The United Democratic Party on Wednesday suspended three of its eight MLAs who joined the BJP, as the regional party in Meghalaya began disciplinary action against legislators who crossed over to the saffron party, party president Metbah Lyngdoh said.
The action came hours after the eight UDP MLAs joined the BJP in New Delhi following a meeting of the party’s state parliamentary board, chaired by Lyngdoh.
He said the party had issued show-cause notices to the three legislators after they publicly announced their decision to join other political parties.
“We gave them time until today to appear personally before the state parliamentary board or submit a written reply if they wished. However, none of these members responded to the show-cause notice,” he said.
“The party unanimously decided to suspend these three members until further orders,” Lyngdoh said.
The suspended legislators are Mawsynram MLA Olan Sing Suin, Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla and Mawphlang MLA Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah.
Lyngdoh said the suspension orders had already been issued in writing and the party would decide its further course of action later.
The remaining five UDP MLAs who joined the BJP are Lahkmen Rymbui, Balajied Kupar Synrem, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, Pius Marwein and Mayralborn Syiem.
With the defection of the eight legislators, the BJP’s strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly has risen from two to 10, while the UDP’s strength has fallen from 12 to four.
Metbah and Rymbui are currently members of the cabinet in the Conrad K Sangma-led government. PTI JOP MNB
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