Guwahati: With the backing of two independent candidates, the National People’s Party (NPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) have united to form the administration in Meghalaya. The 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will feature a total of 32 members that are part of the alliance.
Conrad Sangma, the president of the NPP and the current chief minister of Meghalaya declared the decision to join an alliance. Sangma congratulated the BJP, the HSPDP, the two independent candidates who had endorsed the NPP-led alliance, and other groups for their support.
The NPP garnered the most seats at the recently held elections for the Meghalaya Assembly, but fell short of a majority.
National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma had earlier made a call to Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan on March 3 to stake out a position for forming the state’s government.
The outgoing chief minister, Sangma, asserted that he holds a “absolute majority with 32 MLAs” in the 60-member house but declined to identify the parties that back him.
Addressing a press conference before going to Raj Bhawan, Sangma said, “We have an absolute majority. The BJP has already extended its support. Some others have also given their support.”
State BJP president Ernest Mawrie said that NPP has the support of 34 MLAs in addition to those from the saffron party, including lawmakers from the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), and Independents.
Mawrie also claimed that the new government will take its oath of office on March 7 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. Each of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the Congress took home five seats. The People’s Democratic Front and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party both won two seats, while the newly founded Voice of the People Party (VPP) got four seats. Moreover, two Independent candidates were successful.
Meanwhile, TMC leader and former chief minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma claimed that there is a 100% likelihood of changing the situation and creating the state’s government.
Mukul Sangma also said that a new administration is being discussed by all political parties—aside from the NPP and BJP—with the TMC.
It should be noted that the NPP won 26 seats in the most recent assembly election, compared to the BJP’s 2 seats.
Further, a government must consist of at least 31 seats.