Guwahati: In yet another twist in the tale, Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president KP Pangniang said is that the two party MLAs who had previously backed Conrad Sangma’s NPP to form a government in Meghalaya have now asked the UDP-led alliance for an action plan because the people of the state want a Khasi Chief Minister.
Pangniang said that the party’s two legislators desire a United Democratic Party (UDP) action plan to establish the government without the NPP and the BJP. While addressing a press conference, he stated that he was in negotiations with the two MLAs and requested the UDP and five other parties to discuss how to establish a government in Meghalaya.
He said he had requested the UDP to compile a list of candidates for the top positions of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and cabinet members in the newly elected Meghalayan government.
“As people of Meghalaya want a Khasi Chief Minister, two HSPDP MLAs have asked UDP and other parties to form a government without NPP and BJP,” revealed Pangniang.
The HSPDP president stated that the party’s two lawmakers would not go against the wishes of the party and urged all other parties to put up a plan to form the government. If all went according to plan, they would then return and support the government without the NPP.
He contends that the lawmakers will back any administration led by a regional party, and at least one of them must be in the cabinet.
Pangniang said, “Everyone is looking forward to a Khasi CM and a government led by a regional party, and if national parties like Congress and TMC can support this, then why not HSPDP.”
He added that the two legislators are only waiting for the UDP to create a list before they leave the NPP and back a non-NPP-BJP administration.
The two HSPDP MLAs, Methodius Dkhar (Mawshynrut) and Shakliar Warjri (Mawthadraishan), had previously been revealed to have skipped the UDP-led meeting to create a government that was independent of the NPP and BJP. Later that evening, it came to light that the two MLAs had sent Conrad K Sangma, the leader of the National People’s Party (NPP), letters of support.
Reacting to the support extended by the two HSPDP MLAs, KP Pangniang, President of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), had sent a letter to the NPP President Conrad Sangma, withdrawing support from the NPP party in forming the government.
In his letter, Pangniang had said, “The HSPDP did not authorize the two MLAs to lend support to the formation of your government as we have seen through media report. The party has no role in this affair and therefore withdraws our support to your party”.