Big jolt to Congress: Meghalaya governor reportedly invites NPP to form govt

In a big jolt to Congress, the Meghalaya governor has invited the National People's Party (NPP) to form the government in the state. As per agency reports, NPP president Conrad K Sangma met Governor Ganga Prasad earlier today to stake claim to form govt in Meghalaya.

News agency, ANI has reported that the oath ceremony will now take place on 6th March at 10.30 am.

In Meghalaya Assembly polls, the Congress won 21 seats, followed by the NPP with 19 seats and BJP with and UDP with two and six seats respectively.


Earlier, UDP had extended support to NPP to form the government in the state. BJP had earlier also expressed its desire to extend support to any non-Congress party if they want to form government.

"Next 2-3 days are very crucial because Assembly term is getting over. The House expires on March 7 and everything has to take place before that.. Situation will be clearer by tomorrow," Conrad Sangma was quoted as saying.

Earlier, UDP president and RDA chairman Donkupar Roy told reporters that his party has agreed to lend support to the NPP, which secured 19 seats in the Assembly polls, on the condition that Conrad Sangma will be the chief minister once the NPP-led alliance forms the government.

"Conrad Sangma has agreed to the condition and we will form a stable government. The BJP will be a part of the government here," Roy told reporters after a party meeting.

The alliance has the support of 29 MLAs -- 19 of the NPP, six of the UDP, two of the HSPDP and BJP's two, he said.

But Conrad K Sangma has claimed that he has support of 34 MLAs.

Earlier, Congress too submitted its claim to the state governor to form the government in the state and named Mukul Sangma as the leader of the Meghalaya Congress Legislature Party.

NPP was part of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) but both the parties chose to fight the state election separately.