Amid fears of hung assembly, Conrad Sangma dials Amit Shah for support to form Meghalaya govt

The Meghalaya Assembly election results 2023 have delivered a hung verdict with no party having a clear mandate to form a government on its own.

Amid fears of hung assembly, Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP chief Conrad Sangma on Thursday called Amit Shah to seek support to form government in the state.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to also say that BJP president J P Nadda has advised the Meghalaya unit of the saffron camp to support the NPP as it forms the next government in the neighbouring state.

"Sri @SangmaConrad , Chief Minister of Meghalaya, called @AmitShah ji, Hon'ble Home Minister, and sought his support and blessings in forming the new Government," Sarma wrote.

"Adaraniya Sri @JPNadda ji , the national president of the @BJP4India has advised the state unit of BJP, Meghalaya to support the National People's Party in forming the next government in Meghalaya," the Assam CM added.

The Meghalaya Assembly election results 2023 have delivered a hung verdict with no party having a clear mandate to form a government on its own.

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya won 27 seats, while the United Democratic Party is at second spot with 11 seats under its belt, followed by the Trinamool Congress and the Congress party at 5 seats each.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party, People's Democratic Front and Independents have won 2 seats each while the Voice of the People Party has bagged 4 seats.

The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), the People's Democratic Front and the BJP won two seats each, while the saffron party was leading in one constituency. Two Independent candidates also emerged victorious.

The NPP and the BJP had contested the last elections together and formed a government but broke ties to contest alone ahead of the elections.

Party spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh told PTI although no decision was taken till now on alliance partners, the ruling party will have to seek the support of others to return to power for the second time in a row.

Sangma had held a meeting with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati after exit polls predicted a hung assembly in Meghalaya. There is a "high possibility" that earlier alliance partners will come together, Lyngdoh said when asked if the NPP will ally with the BJP.

The NPP led the outgoing Meghalaya government in alliance with parties such as the UDP, BJP, NCP and others. However, each of the parties fought separately.