Meghalaya BJP not seeking more cabinet berths, says MLA Olansing Suin

The eight former United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs who joined the BJP in Meghalaya are not pushing for more ministerial berths, one of them, Mawsynram MLA Olansing Suin, said on Saturday, October 31, The Shillong Times reported.

The crossover lifted the BJP's strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly from two to 10, prompting speculation that the party would ask for a larger share of posts in the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

"We don't press for cabinet berths"

Suin said the group had not discussed cabinet posts among themselves and that working together within the coalition was their immediate priority. He said the spirit of coalition politics would guide the group, signalling no immediate demand for representation in the ministry.

His comments came as UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh quit the cabinet following the exodus of his party's legislators, leaving the regional party with a single MLA.

On Christians and the BJP

Asked about the BJP's image as a Hindu-oriented party in Christian-majority Meghalaya, Suin rejected allegations that Christians were being ill-treated under BJP rule and said he had seen no discrimination against the community in the state.

He said the party should be judged on governance and welfare delivery, citing housing for the homeless and food security schemes, rather than on perceptions of its ideology.

Mawsynram arithmetic

Suin argued that being in a national party would help him in Mawsynram, a constituency he described as multi-community. Citing the recently published Special Revision electoral roll, he said it has about 37,000 voters, of whom roughly 13,000 are from non-Khasi communities, including Garos and non-tribals.

He said he had close ties with every community in the constituency, though he did not suggest any group would vote for him as a bloc. The next Meghalaya Assembly election is due in 2028.

What it means

With 10 MLAs, the BJP is now a far larger partner in the MDA than it was before the crossover. Any change in the cabinet's make-up would be for Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to decide; no reshuffle has been announced.