A day before getting CM post, Conrad loses support of two MLAS

SHILLONG: A day before being sworn in as the chief minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma lost the support of the regional Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), which has two MLAS. But this will not affect his chances of becoming CM because he still has the support of 32 MLAS in the 60-member assembly.

On Sunday, National People’s Party (NPP) chief Sangma had claimed HSPDP support. The regional party, however, said on Monday it opposed Sangma as CM as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being a part of the coalition government. Incidentally, the BJP also won two seats in the hill state.

The HSPDP has conveyed its opposition to United Democratic Party (UDP) chief Donkupar Roy. The UDP, which has six MLAS and is a key player in the Npp-led coalition, had a pre-poll alliance with the HSPDP.

“We met the UDP leadership and expressed our disappointment and disagreement as far as the proposal made for the chief ministerial candidate, which was taken unilaterally (by the UDP) without consulting us,” HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit told journalists on Monday evening.

He added that his party’s opposition to Sangma, the MP for Tura Lok Sabha constituency, was because “he is not an elected MLA”. Basaiawmoit said before the February elections, the NPP had projected Prestone Tynsong as its CM pick.

He said it would be “betrayal” for the people of Meghalaya if Tynsong was not made CM. “They (NPP) openly said he was their CM candidate. On that basis he (Tynsong) left the Congress to become CM of the state,” said Basaiawmoit.

The HSPDP had campaigned for a non-congress and non-bjp government in Meghalaya.

Asked about the HSPDP position, BJP legislative party leader AL Hek replied, “It is a family matter for the HSPDP and we have no say in it.”

The state, meanwhile, is abuzz with talk of cabinet berth allotment and how Sangma would give representation to regional allies.

Sangma and UDP president Roy could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

On Sunday, the BJP’S northeast strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma had told the media there would not be a deputy CM in the government.