Meghalaya’s United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh lost his cabinet berth following the political upheaval that reduced his party to a one-man outfit. Meanwhile, former party colleague Paul Lyngdoh returned to the Conrad K Sangma government as a minister, this time representing the National People’s Party (NPP).
Metbah, who held the power, water resources, taxation and textiles portfolios, submitted his resignation to chief minister Conrad K Sangma with immediate effect, saying he could no longer continue as a minister after being left as the party’s sole legislator. As the UDP struggles to chart a future with its president as its only legislator, one of its former senior leaders returned to the cabinet under the banner of the party that absorbed him. He was allocated the tourism portfolio, which he previously held before being dropped in the September 2025 cabinet reshuffle. His induction follows Metbah’s resignation from the cabinet on October 31, after 11 of the UDP’s 12 legislators left the party, with eight joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and three moving to the NPP. The issue is expected to be discussed at the party’s November 3 meeting.
“After very thorough and careful consideration, I have taken the decision that I will not be able to continue as Cabinet minister in the MDA government,” he said, adding that his resignation was the first decision taken by the party and that further decisions would follow. “I will never take any decision under pressure because under pressure you will make lots of mistakes,” he said, adding that the party’s Central Executive Committee will decide whether the UDP would continue supporting the MDA government. Paul, meanwhile, said he had neither demanded nor suggested any particular portfolio. He said the chief minister wanted continuity in the Tourism Department and asked him to take charge.
Paul, the West Shillong legislator who left the UDP for the NPP along with two other party colleagues, was sworn in as a cabinet minister by governor CH Vijayashankar at Lok Bhavan on Monday evening.
