A day after the results of assembly polls in Meghalaya in which the ruling NPP emerged as the single-largest party, MLAs of other parties except National People’s Party and Bharatiya Janata Party held a meeting on Friday to decide their future course of action in an apparent bid to form the next government in the state.
The development came on a day Chief Minister and National People’s Party chief Conrad Sangma staked claim to form the government.
He met Governor Phagu Chauhan to stake him claim.
The ruling NPP bagged 26 seats and BJP which has two MLAs had extended it support.
Conrad Sangma on Friday evening submitted the letter of support to Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhawan signed by 32 MLAs of NPP, BJP, Hill State People’s Democratic Party and two Independents.
The state has 60 seats and polling was held on 59 seats due to death of a sitting candidate.
The chief minister later said he has majority in the assembly.
United Democratic Party president Metbah Lyngdoh also said they have support of support of 31 MLAs and “sufficient numbers” to form the government.
“Thirty one MLAs of UDP, TMC, Congress, PDF, HSPDP and one Independent MLA were present in the meeting and we have the sufficient number,” he said.
The parties which met today included Trinamool Congress, Congress, United Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Front, Voice of People Party and Hill State People’s Democratic Party.
Trinamool Congress leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told ANI that the people of the state had given a fractured mandate and the result was for change of government in the state.
He said that they know how to get numbers and the name of the alliance of the grouping has not yet been decided.
“All parties, except BJP and NPP, were here. All parties are sensitive to responsibilities vested upon us. We are aware of our responsibilities that comes with the mandate. Certain things will be further discussed and when we submit our claim the other events will unfold. Do not worry about numbers, we know how to get the numbers. Numbers can be claimed and counter-claimed. You have to go and see what is happening everywhere, in every camp. Name of alliance yet to be decided but resolve to come together finalised,” he told ANI.
He said the meeting discussed the need to come together to ensure that the state is not subjected again to misrule.