Meghalaya government: BJP-NPP trying to get support from regional parties, Congress stakes claim
Shillong, Mar 4 (IBNS): While the Meghalaya polls threw a fractured verdict, the big question doing the rounds is who will form the next government?
The ruling Congress bagged 21 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly and emerged as the single biggest winner.
Following the verdict, party leaders met Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad late last night and demanded that it should be invited to form the next government.
On the other hand, both the BJP and National People's Party (NPP) are trying to woo regional parties to forge an alliance in order to form the cabinet.
To give Congress an upper hand, senior party leaders Kamal Nath and Ahmed Patel rushed to the state capital Shillong on Saturday, moments after the verdict threw in a stalemate.
On Sunday, NPP Chief and Chief Ministerial candidate, Conrad Sangma, met Minister of State for Home and senior BJP leader Kiren Rijiju, after a crucial meeting in presence of the newly elected candidates of NPP.
Sangma said that, they have spoken to like-minded parties and picture will be cleared today.
The NPP, led by Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker late PA Sangma, got 19 seats, BJP bagged 2 seats, the United Democratic Party bagged 6 seats, the People's Democratic Front bagged 4 seats, the Hill State People's Democratic Party got 2 seats, the NCP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement got one each and independents bagged 3 seats.
Meanwhile, Kiren Rijiju also met UDP leader and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy.
Earlier, Independent elected candidate from Baghmara Samuel M Sangma had met Assam minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma and extended his support to BJP.
Sarma said that the verdict of the Meghalaya assembly elections was against the Congress and BJP is ready to provide all support to form a non-Congress government.
On the other hand, crucial close door meetings of Congress, UDP, PDF are going on ahead of forming the next government in the hill state.
After support from the Independent elected candidate from Baghmara, the strength of the BJP-NPP alliance has been increased to 22 and needs 9 more seats to touch the magic number to form government.
Meanwhile, sources said that, UDP and PDF would likely to extend support the NPP to form government.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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