Former Meghalaya MLA Jemino Mawthoh to Join BJP Amid Political Speculations
Jemino Mawthoh's Shift to BJP
File image of former Meghalaya MLA Jemino Mawthoh. (Photo: Jemino Mawthoh/Meta)
Shillong, Sept 6: Jemino Mawthoh, a former MLA from Meghalaya, has declared that he and his supporters will officially join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 12.
After resigning from the United Democratic Party (UDP) in May, where he held the positions of vice president and general secretary for several years, Mawthoh made this announcement following a meeting with his supporters on Saturday.
He mentioned, “The BJP had approached me previously, with discussions starting as early as 2020-21. However, I wanted to ensure that my political decision was well thought out.”
Mawthoh plans to join the BJP at their state office in Shillong on the specified date.
This announcement comes amidst rumors in Meghalaya's political landscape that up to nine of the UDP's twelve MLAs might switch their allegiance to the BJP ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
The speculation intensified after Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday. Although Sangma did not share details on social media, sources indicated that they discussed the changing political dynamics in Meghalaya and the potential for a realignment within the ruling coalition.
As the national president of the National People's Party (NPP), Sangma reportedly briefed Shah about the likelihood of several UDP legislators moving to the BJP.
The political speculation began on August 10, when Shah met with eight UDP MLAs in New Delhi, accompanied by BJP's Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra. This meeting sparked discussions about a possible shift within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-II), where the UDP plays a significant role.
However, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh refuted any claims of defection or merger, asserting that the legislators met Shah to discuss matters related to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and other state issues.
Currently, the UDP holds twelve seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, making it the second-largest partner in the NPP-led MDA government, while the Trinamool Congress has four MLAs.
Sources have suggested that the possibility of merging with the BJP was a key topic during the meeting with Shah.
According to the anti-defection law, a minimum of two-thirds of a legislative party must support a merger to avoid disqualification. For the UDP, this means that eight out of its twelve MLAs would need to switch parties for a merger to occur.
If such a realignment happens, the BJP's representation in the Assembly could increase to fifteen, potentially making it the second-largest party in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, surpassing the UDP.
Mawthoh's decision to join the BJP is expected to contribute to the ongoing political developments in Meghalaya, as discussions about the UDP's future and potential shifts within the ruling coalition continue.