UDP exits BJP-led NEDA in Meghalaya over Citizenship Bill

United Democratic Party (UDP), which is part of the six-party coalition ruling Meghalaya, on Wednesday announced its exit from the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) over the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

NEDA formed by BJP in 2016, is a platform of non-Congress parties from the northeast. UDP has eight MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya legislative assembly.

Already the regional party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) left NEDA last month following the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) bill in the Lok Sabha. UDP’s working president Paul Lyndoh told ET, “ We have decided to leave NEDA for there is a mismatch between UDP and BJP's ideology. BJP wants to bring the Citizenship Bill which is against the indigenous people of the region. We are against the Bill.”


He, however, said UDP will continue to be part of Meghalaya government. BJP is a constituent of Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) which is ruling the state. Naga People’s Front (NPF), the opposition party in Nagaland had earlierleft NEDA.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016,which was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant Indian nationality to people belonging to minority communities - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian - in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residing in India.

However, the ruling BJP could not pass the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, as it was opposed by several civil society groups and political parties, including a few allies. The NPP had reiterated its opposition to the contentious legislation. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the NPP president, had also threatened to sever ties with the NDA if the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha.