Meghalaya Election Results 2023: UDP may emerge as kingmaker as TMC thins out

All eyes are on UDP in the Other category which could play kingmaker in its decision to form an alliance in the Meghalaya election.

As counting of votes began for the 59 assembly constituencies in Meghalaya, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) has emerged as the single-largest party, but may need a partner to be able to return to power in the state, the latest trends show.

As per the trends, the NPP of Conrad Sangma is leading in 24 seats, inches away from the majority mark of 30. The BJP and Congress are locked at leads in 4 seats each, the TMC in 7 and the UDP in 6 assembly constituencies.

It must be noted that in the politically-unstable Meghalaya, if BJP and NPP don't have numbers, they might try to woo United Democratic Party (UDP) to form an alliance.

Now, all eyes are on UDP in the Other category which could play kingmaker in its decision to form an alliance in the Meghalaya election. It had won six seats the last time and took the tally to eight after winning two by-elections.

Meanwhile, the UDP is hoping to better its 2018 performance as the NPP is facing serious charges of corruption and an anti-incumbency wave and the Congress virtually has got decimated by the series of desertions.

In 2018, the Congress won 21 seats but hope of a post-poll coalition to retain power for a third term were dashed after Conrad Sangma's National People's Party (20 seats) tied up with the BJP (three seats), the United Democratic Party (six seats) and others to form the government.

Counting of votes began in Meghalaya at 8 am amid tight security. The votes are being counted at 13 centres. Though initial trends suggested a tight contest between the Trinamool Congress and the NPP. However, the NPP reversed the trend and regained the lead.

Meghalaya has 60 seats, but polling in the Sohiong seat was adjourned due to the death of a candidate. The state went to polls on February 27 with nearly 77.9% of the electorate exercising their franchise.

As exit polls predicted a hung assembly, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday night, fuelling speculations of a post-poll tie-up.

Sangma's NPP and the BJP ran the last government together as part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) but fought the elections on their own.