Former Meghalaya MLA and United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Jemino Mawthoh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, intensifying speculation that at least eight of the regional party’s 12 MLAs could also switch over, a move that may make the BJP the second-largest party in the Meghalaya Assembly.

Mr. Mawthoh, who quit the UDP in May, joined the BJP in Shillong on Saturday. His move came amid growing indications of a possible larger shift of UDP leaders to the BJP.

The speculation grew stronger after six UDP MLAs skipped the party’s Central Executive Committee meeting in Shillong on Friday (September 11, 20260), while three others admitted that they were in talks with the BJP.

The UDP leadership, including party president Metbah Lyngdoh, however, maintained that the party’s legislators remained united.

Both the UDP and the BJP are constituents of the National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. The NPP has 33 MLAs, two more than the simple majority mark in the 60-member Assembly, while the UDP has 12 and the BJP two.

The possible merger of eight UDP legislators—within the ambit of the anti-defection law—would increase the BJP’s seat tally to 10, making it the second-largest party in the House.

Meghalaya-based publications, citing unnamed party leaders, reported that three UDP legislators told the Central Executive Committee that their next move would depend on whether the BJP accepted their demand. These MLAs are Cabinet Minister Lakhmen Rymbui, Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Ollan Sing Suin.

The three MLAs, however, said they had no differences with the UDP leadership, and their decision to switch parties would be in the best interest of their constituencies and the State.

Senior Meghalaya BJP leader and MLA Alexander Laloo Hek declined to say how many UDP legislators would cross over and when. “With two seats, the BJP has one Cabinet berth. The party should demand more berths after the possible increase in its numbers,” he said.