Conrad Sangma set to form govt in Shillong
■ UDP plays kingmaker in Meghalaya ■ Cong fails in bid to remain in power
After a day- long political drama, National Peoples’ Party chief Conrad Sangma staked claim on Sunday to forming an alliance government with the support of 34 legislators of regional political parties and the BJP in Meghalaya.
Mr Sangma, accompanied by senior Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma ( who is in charge of the party’s spread in the region), met governor Ganga Prasad at Raj Bhavan in Shillong Sunday evening and submitted letters of support from 34 legislators.
Though the Congress has emerged as the single largest party with 20 members, the regional United Democratic Party, which got six seats and emerged as the kingmaker, pledged support for the Conrad Sangma- led NPP.
BJP strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma, who played a key role in bringing the regional political parties and independent legislators on one platform, said that there will be no deputy chief minister in the Conrad Sangma government. “We have the support of 34 legislators so far, but some more may join our alliance. We are confident of getting the support of all the non- Congress legislators,” said Mr Sarma while leaving Raj Bhavan.
Mr Sarma, who was camping in Shillong since Saturday and was instrumental in foiling the Congress’ bid to woo the regional parties, including the Peoples’ Democratic Front ( PDF), said that the BJP would also be a part of the government. “Against two MLAs, one ministerial berth will
be given to all the political parties supporting the government,” he said.
United Democratic Party ( UDP) president Donkupar Roy, who played the role of kingmaker, said: “The UDP decided we should go for a non- Congress government with Conrad Sangma as the chief minister.”
Earlier, there was high drama at Mr Roy’s house during the day when outgoing chief minister Mukul Sangma of the Congress and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma arrived at his house at the same time to seek his support.
After failing to muster support, the Congress at one point even offered to support regional players like the UDP to form the next government with outside support from the Congress. However, the UDP turned down the offer.
In addition to the NPP’s 19 members in the 59- member Assembly, the NPP- led coalition has letters of support from at least 15 more members. Six of them are from the UDP and two each from the Hill State People’s Democratic Party, the BJP and Independents.
A Lok Sabha member from Tura constituency, Mr Sangma was the state’s youngest finance minister in 2008 and was later Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. The NPP was founded by former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma and run by his family.
The BJP has, however, made it clear that it wasn’t looking “at a major role” in Meghalaya, but has been rallying support for the NPP. “Wherever they feel the BJP can facilitate their discussion, help or inspire, we will be there,” said Mr Himanta Sarma.
Visibly upset over the fractured mandate, Congress CM Mukul Sangma taunted the BJP for attempting to form the government with just two members. “They want to fire from the shoulder of other political parties,” the outgoing CM told reporters after submitting his resignation to the governor. He also asked the people not to write off the Congress’ chances of forming the government. “The fractured mandate says you have to talk with other political parties,” he said.