NCP

Shillong, Mar 8 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) and United Democratic Party(UDP), along with four other parties and two Independent candidates have staked claim to form government in Meghalaya under the banner of Meghalaya Progressive Alliance(MPA).

UDP president and former chief minister Donkupar Roy, after meeting Governor S S Sidhu at Raj Bhavan here, said, ''We, along with NCP, Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement(KHNAM), Hill State People's Democratic Party(HSPDP) and two Independent candidates, have laid claim to form the government under Meghalaya Progressive Alliance.

If the alliance takes over, Dr Roy will become the Chief Minister, party sources said and added, ''HSPDP president Hopingstone Lyngdo will be the deputy chief minister.'' Dr Roy said the MPA has already decided to formulate a Common Minimum Programme (CMP), which will be discussed in the Joint Parliamentary Party Meeting tonight.

When questioned on the stability of the alliance, Dr Roy said, ''We are committed to provide stability and the constituent - parties know the roles they play in this. So we are not worried.'' BJP, KHNAM, HSPDP and two MLAs will each get a ministerial berth, while three Independent candidates will also get a berth each. The remaining six will be shared by NCP and UDP.

Although, NCP had previously projected former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma as the Chief Ministerial candidate, they have now left it for the UDP candidate.

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