8 MLAs of Meghalaya's United Democratic Party join BJP

New Delhi: Eight MLAs of Meghalaya's United Democratic Party (UDP) joined the BJP in the presence of senior leaders, including Union minister Kiren Rijiju, here at the party headquarters on Wednesday.

Lahkmen Rymbui, Pius Marwein, Kyrmen Shylla, Mayralborn Syiem, Matthew Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem, Synshar Kupar Roy joined the BJP here.

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Welcoming the UDP MLAs to the party, Rijiju said they have joined the BJP looking at the progress of the northeast and Meghalaya under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It is an extremely important political development, not only for the northeast but the entire country," the senior BJP leader said at a joint press conference at the BJP headquarters.

"All of these eight MLAs were extremely impressed and influenced by Prime Minister Modi and our BJP-led NDA government's performance. They decided to join the BJP," Rijiju added.

At the press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra, who is also the party's coordinator for northeastern states, announced the names of the eight UDP MLAs who joined the saffron party here. "We were in talks with them," Patra said.