NPP leader Conrad Sangma took oath as the new chief minister of the state on Tuesday, 6 March.
The National People’s Party (NPP), along with the the United Democratic Party (UDP), the BJP and an Independent MLA, among others, formed an alliance and met Governor Ganga Prasad to stake claim over the formation of the government.
- NPP leader Conrad Sangma took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya on Tuesday, 6 March
- The Congress had won 21 seats, followed by the NPP with 19 seats, UDP with six seats and BJP with two seats in the recently-held Assembly elections in the state
- However, the BJP broke its alliance with NDPP and took the support of the NPP to form the government
"Will Work to Take Our State Forward": CM Conrad Sangma
The newly sworn-in Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma told ANI that his party was clear on its agenda of good governance and that it would work to take the state forward.
We are clear on our agenda of good governance, many sectors need to be looked into. Real challenge and work starts today. We will work to take our state forward.CM Conrad Sangma told ANI
I Congratulate Conrad Sangma: Rajnath Singh
Speaking to ANI, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that with Conrad Sangma swearing-in as the chief minister of Meghalaya, the perception that the northeast was Congress territory was now going to change.
I congratulate Conrad Sangma. There was a perception that only Congress party can survive in the north-east but now that BJP has gained victory here, that perception will change.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to ANI
Conrad Sangma Takes Oath as New CM, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah Present
Conrad Sangma took oath as the new chief minister of Meghalaya, in Shillong on Tuesday, 6 March. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president Amit Shah were present at the event, ANI reported.
Along with Sangma, his Council of Ministers were sworn in at the oath-ceremony as well.
Sangma Faces New Challenges Before Taking Oath
Even before he can take the oath as the new Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma is already facing a series of challenges posed by members of the NPP-led alliance itself.
According to IANS, one of the parties in the coalition, Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), has expressed its objections to Sangma being projected as chief minister. This, they say, is due to the fact that the UDP did not consult the former while selecting Sangma as the new chief minister of the state.
A pre-poll alliance was forged between the UDP and HSPDP but they (UDP) did not consult us when they proposed the name of Conrad Sangma to be the chief minister.Ardent Basaiawmoit, HSPDP president, to IANS
The HSPDP also said that while the NPP has been indicating that they would select Prestone Tynsong as the chief ministerial candidate, they instead chose Sangma, who was not an elected legislator.
Along with this, the party also voiced their reservations about working in coalition with the BJP.
“A non-Congress or non-BJP government could be formed along with the NPP,” Basaiawmoit told IANS.