Shillong, March 4 : While the Meghalaya polls threw a hung verdict, now a big question raised that who will form the next government.
When the ruling Congress bagged 21 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly had met Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad late last night and said that it should be invited to form the next government as the Congress emerged single largest party, BJP and National People's Party (NPP) are also tried to form government in support from the regional parties.
Senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel were rushed to the state capital Shillong yesterday as polls results threw a hung verdict.
On Sunday, NPP Chief and Chief Ministerial candidate Conrad Sangma met Minister of State for Home and senior BJP leader Kiren Rijiju after a crucial meeting in presence of the newly elected candidates of NPP.
NPP Chief Conrad Sangma said that, they have spoken to like-minded parties and picture will be cleared today.
The NPP, led by Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker late PA Sangma, got 19 seats, BJP bagged 2 seats, the United Democratic Party bagged 6 seats, the People's Democratic Front bagged 4 seats, the Hill State People's Democratic Party got 2 seats, the NCP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement got one each and independents bagged 3 seats.
Meanwhile, Kiren Rijiju also met UDP leader and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy.
Earlier, Independent elected candidate from Baghmara Samuel M Sangma had met Assam minister and senior BJP leader Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and extended his support to BJP.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, the verdict of the Meghalaya assembly elections was against the Congress and BJP is ready to provide all support to form a non-Congress government.
On the other hand, crucial close door meetings of Congress, UDP, PDF are going on ahead of forming the next government in the hill state.
After support from the Independent elected candidate from Baghmara, now strength of the BJP-NPP alliance has been increased to 22 and needs 9 more seats to touch the magic number to form government.
Meanwhile, sources said that, UDP and PDF would likely to extend support the NPP to form government.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
