Meghalaya Polls: Conrad Sangma's NPP-led coalition reelected in Meghalaya

The National People's Party is set to form the next government in Meghalaya. The leader of the outgoing coalition that governs Meghalaya won 26 of the 60 seats. Its coalition partners United Democratic Party won 11 seats, and People's Democratic Party and Hill State People's Democratic Party two seats each.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma thanked the people. "I thank the people of the state for voting for our party. We are short by a few numbers and we will wait for the final result before deciding on how to go ahead," he said during a news conference in Shillong on Thursday. Sangma won the South Tura seat against his nearest rival Dikkanchi D Shira, wife of Mukul Sangma. BJP's Bernard K Marak was also a contestant here.

BJP could not win more than 2 seats, its 2018 tally, despite contesting all 60 seats. Trinamool Congress and Congress won 5 seats each. Voice of the People Party, anew outfit, won four seats and Independents two. Indicating BJP's preference to rejoin hands with NPP, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a tweet said that Sangma sought home minister Amit Shah's "support and blessings" in forming the new government." He also said BJP chief JP Nadda advised the state unit to support NPP.

As things stand, the ruling coalition has a clear majority and does not need the support of any other party, including estranged ally BJP. NPP, nevertheless, may want to keep the party that governs the Centre humoured, despite personal attacks on his family during poll campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.