Congress to stake claim to form govt in Meghalaya
The Congress will meet governor Ganga Prasad and stake its claim to form the next government in Meghalaya on Saturday night, senior leader Kamal Nath said.
Both the Congress and the BJP have rushed their top managers to Shillong to scout for possible partners to form the government in Meghalaya where the February 27 assembly elections threw up a hung verdict.
Apart from Nath, senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Mukul Wasnik and CP Joshi have started talks with regional parties and independents. On the other hand, the BJP has deputed Assam minister and its North East strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma to talk to explore the possibility of government formation.
The prompt move by the Congress comes in the wake of severe criticism it faced after the party failed to form the governments in Goa and Manipur despite being the single largest party in both the states.
The BJP managed to form the governments in Goa and Manipur with the help of smaller parties and independent candidates.
Expressing confidence that they will succeed in their mission, Nath later told reporters that the Congress will stake its claim to form the government in Meghalaya later in the day.
He also accused the BJP of using “money power to cause as much disturbance as possible” and keep the Congress out
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of power.
“It is clear that we will form the government. The will of the people of Meghalaya will be reflected in our Congress government,” he said.
“We are in touch with everybody. Everybody is in touch with us. We will stake claim tonight.”
For his part, Patel said there would no repetition of Manipur andGoa.
Outgoing chief minister Mukul Sangma, who won from the two seats he contested, said the results were not on expected lines and he would keep his cards close to his chest on government formation.
Meghalaya is one of the five states where the Congress is in power.
The other states are Karnataka, Punjab, Mizoram and Puducherry.
It is clear that we will form the government. The will of the people of Meghalaya will be reflected in our Congress government.
KAMAL NATH , Congress leader