By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 29: Two months after the Cabinet reshuffle in Meghalaya, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is still struggling to contain internal discontent, with party heavyweights quietly reworking their political plans ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
Party insiders say the turmoil stems from the removal of senior UDP leader Paul Lyngdoh from the Cabinet, a decision widely seen as having been made at the behest of the party leadership rather than on performance grounds.
Sources admit that Lyngdoh remains disappointed and is seriously weighing the option of contesting the 2028 polls on a National People’s Party (NPP) ticket, a move that could significantly alter the balance of power in the regional political space.
On his part, Lyngdoh himself has chosen to remain silent on his future plans.
While some believed there was a pre-agreed power-sharing formula, Lyngdoh denied any explicit written or verbal agreement for a rotational tenure, suggesting that the suddenness of the decision felt “unceremonious”.
Lyngdoh notably skipped the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers on September 16, indicating his surprise and disappointment.
Having earlier described the move as a setback, he admitted that he had nothing personal against his party, but made it clear that it was more a matter of ethics.
Elaborating further, he recalled that four days before the reshuffle, the party had celebrated its foundation day and the party president (Metbah Lyngdoh) had gone on record, stating in the media that the UDP have no plans of a reshuffle of its cabinet berths.
In contrast, another UDP leader who lost his ministerial berth in the reshuffle, Kyrmen Shylla, is said to have accepted the decision and decided to move on.
According to UDP sources, Shylla is likely to keep his political cards close to his chest for now and reveal his plans only as the 2028 election draws nearer.
Sensing an opportunity, both the Congress and the BJP have begun “courting” the disgruntled UDP leaders, including those removed from the Cabinet.
Party sources from both sides confirm that preliminary talks are underway and suggest that any formal moves or announcements are likely to come closer to the 2028 Assembly elections.
