Guwahati: Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) has claimed stake to the Meghalaya government — having reportedly cobbled up the requisite numbers with the help of the BJP — after poll results threw up a hung Assembly in Meghalaya Thursday.
Sangma, who is set to lead the Northeast state for a second consecutive term, submitted his resignation to Governor Phagu Chauhan Friday. He was then invited by the governor to form the government.
The BJP will continue to be the junior partner in the 60-member Assembly with two MLAs, but there is uncertainty still over the participation of the UDP, which was in the outgoing government.
On whether the UDP would partner with the NPP, party vice-president Allantry F. Dkhar told ThePrint they were “working things out”. The UDP won 11 seats, five more than in 2018, while the BJP could not manage beyond two.
In black and white, Sangma initially had the support of 29 MLAs, but was still short of two to attain a simple majority to lead the new coalition government. Apart from the BJP, he has the support of an Independent MLA.
Later Friday evening, he took to Twitter to announce that he has the support of 32 MLAs, including the NPP, BJP, Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and two independent members to form the government “in alliance with the NPP”.
Submitted the letter of support to the Hon’ble Governor, Sh. Shri Phagu Chauhan Ji signed by 32 Hon’ble MLAs of the NPP, BJP, HSPDP and 2 Independent to form the Government in alliance with the NPP. pic.twitter.com/AY7xhSV8LR
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 3, 2023
The two HSPDP MLAs are Methodius Dkhar and Shakliar Warjri while the two independent MLAs, Remington Gabil Momin and Kartush R Marak, extended their support to the NPP even as leaders of the United Democratic Party (UDP), TMC, and Voice of the People Party (VPP) reportedly huddled in Shillong to try effect any change to the current scenario.
However, HSPDF wrote a letter to Conrad Sangma soon after, stating that the party leadership had not authorised the two MLAs to lend support to government formation.
“The party has no role in this affair, and therefore, withdraw our support to your party,” read the letter, a copy of which is available with ThePrint. The same was also sent by HSPDP to the Governor’s office.
The NPP emerged the single-largest party Thursday, with 26 seats in the elections held across 59 constituencies — seven more than 2018. It got a vote share of 31.5 per cent.
“We are going to proceed as a party to meet the governor, requesting him to invite the NPP to form the government, ours being the single largest party,” Sangma said.
“BJP and other political parties have given their formal support to us. We are sufficient in numbers,” the 45-year-old NPP President said, not mentioning which other political party would be part of the new coalition.
Though the NPP and the UDP have enough seats to form the government — 36 together, Conrad Sangma counts on the BJP for central backing.
“We have been told that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister would like to attend the swearing-in ceremony. We are awaiting a confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office,” Sangma told the media outside Raj Bhawan.
Also read: Politics, rivalry, faith: Why BJP’s Bernard Marak won’t talk to Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma