United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)

History

In 1998, B. B. Lyngdoh was sworn in as Chief Minister of Meghalaya with the support of his erstwhile rival, the Indian National Congress. UDP won 20 MLAs in the 60-member house and with 26 MLAs Indian National Congress was senior partner in the Alliance. There was a power-sharing agreement between the UDP and Indian National Congress to share the Chief position for two and a half years each. D. D. Lapang was named Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya.

In 2000, E. K. Mawlong succeeded B. B. Lyngdoh as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Mawlong in his 18-month tenure was embroiled in a scandal stemming from the construction of Meghalaya House in Kolkata. Bharatiya Janata Party and Nationalist Congress Party withdrew their support for Mawlong and he was forced to step down from office in December 2001.

Meghalaya Progressive Alliance

In 2008, UDP formed Meghalaya Progressive Alliance along with Nationalist Congress Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, Bharatiya Janata Party and along with two Independents.

Despite being the largest party, the Nationalist Congress Party gave up the Chief Minister post to UDP in order to achieve stability in the Government. There are also some reports of a power-sharing agreement between the UDP and NCP to share the Chief Minister position for two and a half years each.

Dr. Donkupar Roy was named the Chief Minister of Meghalaya with the support of 31 members in the 60 member Assembly.

In May 2009, the United Democratic Party and the Hill State People's Democratic Party had left the Progressive Alliance and government collapsed.

North-East Democratic Alliance

In May 2016, after the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance formed its first government in Assam, and formed a new alliance called the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) non-Congress parties from the northeast with Himanta Biswa Sarma as its convener. The Chief Ministers of the north eastern states of all states too belong to this alliance.

In March 2018, The NPP came second behind Indian National Congress by winning 19 seats in the 2018 Meghalaya legislative assembly election. Conrad Sangma staked claim to form government with a letter of support from the 34 MLAs, that included 19 from NPP, six from United Democratic Party, 4 from People's Democratic Front, two each from Hill State People's Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party, and an independent.

Dr. Donkupar Roy was elected as Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly along with Metbah Lyngdoh, Kyrmen Shylla and Lahkmen Rymbui sworn in as minister in the Conrad Sangma government.

In February 2019, United Democratic Party left North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

In 2019, Metbah Lyngdoh was elected president of the party after the death of Donkupar Roy and he was also named speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

In 2023 Meghalaya legislative assembly election, the UDP came second behind National People's Party (India) by winning 12 seats in the 2023 Meghalaya legislative assembly election. It joined the MDA government.

Electoral performance

List of presidents

List of chief ministers

• B. B. Lyngdoh
  • First term: 10 March 1998 to 8 March 2000
• E. K. Mawlong
  • First term: 8 March 2000 to 8 December 2001
• Dr. Donkupar Roy
  • First term: 19 March 2008 to 18 March 2009

References

References

1. "Constitution of The United Democratic Party". Election Commission of India.
2. (2014). "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 10.03.2014". Election Commission of India.
3. [https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19980810-b.b.-lyngdoh-back-again-as-meghalaya-cm-with-erstwhile-rival-congress-support-828039-1998-06-10 B.B. Lyngdoh back again as Meghalaya CM with erstwhile rival Congress support]
4. [https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/bb-lyngdoh-passes-away/cid/797488 BB Lyngdoh passes away]
5. [https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1826/18260430.htm Once more in Meghalaya]{{Dead link. (July 2025)
6. [https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/former-meghalaya-chief-minister-ek-mawlong-dies/story-akFEqt3Z7GzbC4pwYfr9dI.html Former Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong dies]
7. [https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/former-meghalaya-cm-e-k-mawlong-dies/621792 Former Meghalaya CM E K Mawlong dies]
8. [https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ek-mawlong-passes-away/cid/534248 EK Mawlong passes away]
9. (10 May 2011). "Lapang sworn in Meghalaya CM, MPA to move SC". Ibnlive.in.com.
10. (17 May 2019). "Lapang Govt falls in Meghalaya, Roy appointed CM". Ibnlive.in.com.
11. (17 May 2019). "UDP-NCP, Cong stake claim to form govt in Meghalaya". Ibnlive.in.com.
12. (25 May 2016). "Amit Shah holds meeting with northeast CMs, forms alliance". Hindustan Times.
13. (3 March 2018). "Hung Assembly in Meghalaya, Congress single largest party". The Hindu.
14. (5 March 2018). "Meghalaya assembly elections 2018: NPP-led alliance all set to form govt". Mint.
15. (4 March 2018). "Congress outsmarted in Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma to be sworn in March 6". The Hindu.
16. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shillong/donkupar-roy-is-new-meghalaya-speaker/articleshow/63269700.cms Donkupar Roy is new Meghalaya Speaker]
17. [https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/udp-exits-bjp-led-neda-in-meghalaya-over-citizenship-bill/articleshow/68088799.cms UDP exits BJP-led NEDA in Meghalaya over Citizenship Bill]
18. [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/meghalaya-party-quits-bjp-led-neda-over-citizenship-bill-1461077-2019-02-20 Meghalaya party quits BJP-led NEDA over Citizenship Bill]
19. [https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/now-meghalaya-party-exits-bjp-led-northeast-front-over-citizenship-bill-1996658 Meghalaya Party Exits BJP-Led Northeast Front Over Citizenship Bill]
20. [https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/metbah-lyngdoh-elected-president-of-united-democratic-party-119091101189_1.html Metbah Lyngdoh elected president of United Democratic Party]