‘Just wait and watch’: NPP’s Conrad Sangma stakes claim to form Meghalaya govt

Meghalaya: The NPP, founded by Conrad Sangma’s father and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma in 2013, won 26 seats on its own.

Updated on: Mar 3, 2023, 14:00:25 IST

By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

GUWAHATI: A day after the National Peoples’ Party (NPP) emerged as the single largest party, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on Friday submitted his resignation to governor Phagu Chauhan and staked claim to form the next government.

Meghalaya chief minister and NPP chief Conrad Sangma said he also staked claim to form the new government at his meeting with governor Phagu Chauhan. (PTI)

“We have asked the governor to invite NPP, which is the single largest party, to form the government. We have been extended support by several MLAs including two from Bharatiya Janata Party and an Independent MLA from Baghmara,” the 45-year-old NPP president said after his meeting with the governor.

Sangma was accompanied by several NPP legislators, two BJP legislators, Shanbor Shullai and AL Hek, and Kartush R Marak, the Independent legislator from Baghmara, who have pledged support to an NPP-led coalition government. Their support implies that the NPP is just two seats short of the majority mark of 31 in the 60-member assembly.

The NPP, founded by Conrad Sangma’s father and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma in 2013, won 26 seats on its own.

Also Read: In Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma bridges old fault lines

Sangma said he will get support from other parties as well but didn’t elaborate.

There is speculation that Sangma may opt to take support from Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Peoples’ Democratic Front, the two regional parties which won two seats each. HSPDP was part of the previous government as well.

People aware of the matter said Sangma may not take the help of the United Democratic Party (UDP), which was part of the outgoing government as well. The UDP secured 11 seats and is the second-largest party in the assembly after NPP.

Sangma declined to comment.

“We will sit with the other parties who have extended support and discuss with them before taking any decision. I don’t want to give all details now. Just wait and watch,” he added.

Sangma said he hadn’t decided on the date for his oath ceremony and will take a call only after getting confirmation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah who have expressed a desire to attend the ceremony.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.