The Meghalaya election results were in tune with the exit polls as no party has secured the majority mark which is 31.
However, there are clear indications of moves by the NPP to form a government with the help of the BJP.
The NPP which won 26 seats – 18 from Garo Hills, four from Jaintia Hills, two from Ri-Bhoi and two from East Khasi Hills – has already approached the BJP for support to form the new government.
With five seats less to reach the magic number of 31, today, NPP president Conrad K. Sangma called Union Home Minister Amit Shah asking for his support in forming the new government.
This was also confirmed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who tweeted that Sangma sought Shah’s “support and blessings”.
Shortly later, Sarma tweeted that BJP national president J P Nadda has advised the BJP’s Meghalaya unit to support the NPP-led government.
The BJP won two seats in the elections. Sitting party MLAs – Alexander L. Hek and Sanbor Shullai retained their seats of Pynthorumkhrah and South Shillong respectively.
It may be recalled that soon after exit polls predicted a hung Assembly in Meghalaya, Sangma went to Guwahati and held a meeting with Sarma at a hotel where the two reportedly discussed possibilities of government formation.
The NPP-BJP combine which altogether comprised 28 MLAs will also need the support of other parties to form the government.
Two independents who won the elections from Rambrai-Jyrngam and Baghmara are likely to support the NPP-BJP in forming the government.
However, it is not clear if the UDP, PDF and HSPDP which were part of the outgoing MDA government will extend support to the new government.
According to political observers, the NPP-BJP combine will try to win smaller parties and independents in order to cobble up an alliance without sacrificing much on major portfolios.
