Shillong, Oct. 25 -- The United Democratic Party's (UDP) collapse has exposed a paradox in Meghalaya's politics: regional demands remain central to public life, yet the very parties that claim to represent them are being sidelined and struggling to retain their elected representatives.

The UDP has been reduced from a significant regional force to a party with one legislator after eight MLAs merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and three others sought to join the ruling National People's Party (NPP). The BJP's strength has risen from two to 10 in the 60-member assembly, while the UDP has been left confronting an existential crisis.

The three UDP MLAs --- Paul Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh --- have been for...