Congress stakes claim to form government

Shillong, Mar 8 (UNI) The Congress today staked claim to form the government in Meghalaya after the party unanimously elected incumbent Chief Minister D D Lapang as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

After meeting Governor S S Sidhu at the Raj Bhavan, Dr Lapang, while speaking to reporters, said, ''Since the Congress is the largest party in the state, we are bound to form the government. I have come to stake claim and we would prove our majority in the floor of the House.'' Responding to a question on names of possible alliance partners, he refused to divulge.

''We are in the process of seeking friends and I will not divulge this to you now,'' he said, but added, ''the Congress is sure to retain power in the state''.

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