As Conrad Sangma stakes claim, six parties hold meet in Meghalaya to form govt

A day after the results of Meghalaya’s assembly elections, in which the ruling NPP emerged as the single-largest party, MLAs from other parties, except the NPP and the BJP, met on Friday to decide their next course of action in an apparent bid to form the state’s next government.

The news came on the same day that Chief Minister and National People’s Party leader Conrad Sangma staked his claim to form the government. He went to meet with Governor Phagu Chauhan to stake his claim. The ruling NPP won 26 seats, and the BJP, which has two MLAs, backed it up.

Conrad Sangma presented a letter of support to Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhawan on Friday evening, which was signed by 32 MLAs from the NPP, BJP, HSPDP, and two Independents. Due to the death of a sitting candidate, voting was held on 59 of the state’s 60 seats. Later, the Chief Minister stated that he has a majority in the Assembly.

Metbah Lyngdoh, president of the United Democratic Party (UDP), also stated that they have the support of 31 MLAs and “sufficient numbers” to form the government.

“Thirty one MLAs of UDP, TMC, Congress, PDF, HSPDP and one Independent MLA were present in the meeting and we have the sufficient number,” he said.

The parties which met today included Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress, United Democratic Party (UDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Voice of People Party (VPP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP).

Trinamool Congress leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told ANI that the people of the state had given a fractured mandate and the result was for change of government in the state.
He said that they know how to get numbers and the name of the alliance of the grouping has not yet been decided.

“All parties, except BJP and NPP, were here. All parties are sensitive to responsibilities vested upon us. We are aware of our responsibilities that comes with the mandate. Certain things will be further discussed and when we submit our claim the other events will unfold. Do not worry about numbers, we know how to get the numbers. Numbers can be claimed and counter-claimed. You have to go and see what is happening everywhere, in every camp. Name of alliance yet to be decided but resolve to come together finalised,” he told ANI.

He said the meeting discussed the need to come together to ensure that the state is not subjected again to misrule.

“People of the state have given a fractured mandate. This mandate is for a change…Rest of the political parties must understand that along with this mandate comes a responsibility to come and work together for the larger good of people. Therefore, this meeting discussed the need to come together and stand firm in our commitment to ensure that the state is not subjected again to that kind of misrule and unprecedented plundering,” he said.

Two HSPDP MLAs have extended their support to the NPP, but the HSPDP leadership has stated that it has not authorised its MLAs to do so, and the party has withdrawn its support.

Governor Chauhan accepted Conrad Sangma’s resignation and asked him to stay on until alternative arrangements could be made.

Earlier on Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma stated that Conrad Sangma had contacted Union Home Minister Amit Shah in order to gain support for forming a government in the state.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) won 11 seats in the assembly elections held on Thursday. Five seats in Congress were won. Trinamool Congress received five seats as well, despite having inducted all Congress MLAs in the previous assembly.

The BJP, the People’s Democratic Front, and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party all won two seats. The Voice of the People Party received four seats. Independent candidates won two seats.

The BJP and NPP were coalition partners in the previous government but ran separate campaigns in the assembly elections.

In the other assembly elections held on Thursday, the BJP and its allies won comfortable victories in Tripura and Nagaland.