MEGHALAYA: NPP, ALLIES MEET GOVERNOR TO STAKE CLAIM TO FORM GOVERNMENT

Congress on Sunday lost yet another state despite emerging as the single largest party in the assembly elections as leaders of the National People's Party, United Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party met the Meghalaya Governor to stake claim to form the next government in the state. NPP leader Conrad Sangma is expected to take oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya on March 6.  MLAs from NPP, UDP, BJP and HSPDP arrived at Governor House in Shillong on Sunday evening in order to stake claim to form the government. Speaking to reporters after meeting the governor, Sangma said that "good governance" will be a priority for the NDA government. Sangma added, "Running a coalition government is never easy but I am confident that the MLAs who are with us are very committed to the state and people, will work towards development of the state."

This comes after the United Democratic Party (UDP) on Sunday announced that it will extend its support to the National People's Party (NPP), an ally of the BJP at the Centre and Manipur. In the results for the Assembly elections announced yesterday, Congress had emerged as the single-largest party with 21 seats, while the BJP had two. The NPP gained victory in 19 seats. The UDP and Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), which stitched a pre-poll alliance, won only six and two seats respectively, while the newly floated People's Democratic Front won four.

The Congress has been in power in Meghalaya since 2003 while the incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has been at the helm of affairs since 2010.