Shillong: Dramatic moves to form the government in Meghalaya where no party got an absolute majority in the assembly elections. Conrad Sangma, the current caretaker chief minister and chairman of the largest single party NPP with 26 seats, met the governor yesterday claiming that he has the majority to form the government. But the big twist came when the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) withdrew its support to the alliance after that.
HSPDP has two MLAs. Conrad Sangma approached the governor claiming that 32 people supported him after they expressed their support to the NPP the other day. But HSPDP president KP Pangniang informed Conrad yesterday that the support is being withdrawn.
An absolute majority is required for 31 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. On February 20, elections were held for 59 seats, except for the Sohyeong assembly constituency, which was postponed due to the death of former home minister and UDP candidate HDR Lyngdoh. The BJP, which has two MLAs, had given support to the NPP after the results were announced, even though it left the alliance before the elections.
Meanwhile, the UDP and Trinamool came forward with the claim of forming the government. Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma said his party is in talks with the UDP and an anti-BJP-NPP alliance will form the government in Meghalaya. The UDP has also announced that it will form the government with Trinamool and Congress. The UDP claims that they have the support of 31 people.
The UDP is the second largest single party in the state with 11 seats. Congress and Trinamool have five seats each. The newly formed Voice of the People party has four seats and the PDP has two seats. Both independents have won. If those other than the BJP-NPP alliance form the opposition, the UDP can form the government with the 31 seats required for an absolute majority.
English Summary: Sangmas lock horns over Meghalaya govt formation, Conrad stakes claim even as Mukul promises more drama