The National People's Party is all geared up to form a non-Congress government in Meghalaya with the support of three regional parties, the BJP and one Independent MLA.
With this, the Bharatiya Janata Party has virtually conquered another state of which it will be a part of, even after securing mere two seats in the recently concluded polls. The Congress, however, suffered a jolt as it failed to stitch a post poll alliance with regional parties to retain power, despite emerging as the single largest party in the state.
The swearing in ceremony is slated to be held at 10:30 am on March 6. While Conrad Sangma will be taking oath as Meghalaya Chief Minister, there would be no Deputy CM in the new government.
Sangma, who is the president of NPP, met Governor Governor Ganga Prasad on Sunday and staked claim to form the government with the support of 34 MLAs.
"We have submitted a letter of support of 34 legislators to Governor Ganga Prasad and staked claimed to form the new government," Conrad Sangma told journalists as he emerged from Raj Bhavan.
He said the 34 legislators include 19 from National People's Party (NPP), six from United Democratic Party (UDP), four from People's Democratic Front (PDF), two each from Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), besides one Independent MLA Samuel Sangma.
The regional parties -- UDP, HSPDP and PDF -- extended support to the NPP on the condition that Conrad Sangma, the youngest son of former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma, would be the Chief Minister.
"NPP have agreed to the condition of the three regional parties and I (Conrad Sangma) will be the Chief Minister," he said.
He said the non-Congress parties will now only wait for the invitation of the Governor to install the new government.
Outgoing Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who had submitted his resignation letter to Governor Ganga Prasad has been asked to continue in the office till the formation of new government.
Meghalaya is the second state, after Manipur and Goa, where the Congress has not been able to forge a post-polls alliance with any of the regional parties despite emerging as the largest single party.
But the designated Chief Minister said: "It is not about the single largest but it is about the group who has the majority. It is clear that we have the majority by getting the support of the 34 MLAs. Therefore, we have come and staked our claim to form the government."
Conrad Sangma's National People's Party (NPP) had won 19 seats, while UDP and BJP managed to secure six and two seats respectively.
(With IANS inputs)
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