UDP, PDF extends support to Conrad Sangma's NPP to form govt in Meghalaya

Ahead of the formation of the new government in Meghalaya, UDP and People's Democratic Front (PDF) have extended their support to the National People's Party (NPP) to form the government

Ahead of the formation of the new government in Meghalaya, United Democratic Party (UDP) and People's Democratic Front (PDF) have extended their support to the National People's Party (NPP) to form the government.

Metbah Lyngdoh, president of UDP told ANI that UDP has extended its support to NPP to form the government.

"We (UDP and PDF) have extended our support to NPP," Metbah Lyngdoh said on Sunday.

With the support from UDP and PDF, the numbers have now gone up to 45.

UDP won 11 seats in the Meghalaya assembly polls and PDF won two seats.

Earlier, BJP, two MLAs of HSPDP and two Independent MLAs extended their support to NPP.

Conrad Sangma will take the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for a consecutive second term on March 7. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Raj Bhawan in Shillong where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present.

NPP chief Sangma on Friday had submitted his resignation letter as chief minister of Meghalaya before Governor Phagu Chauhan and staked a claim to form the new government in the state.

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on Thursday.

Governor Chauhan has accepted the resignation of Conrad Sangma and requested him to continue till alternative arrangements are made.

United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 11 seats in the results of assembly polls announced on Thursday. Congress won five seats. Trinamool Congress, which had inducted all Congress MLAs in the previous assembly, also got five seats.

BJP, People's Democratic Front and Hill State People's Democratic Party bagged two seats each. Voice of the People Party got four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates.

BJP and NPP were partners in the outgoing government but fought the assembly polls separately.

The BJP and its allies won comfortable victories in Tripura and Nagaland in the other assembly poll results announced on Thursday.

The BJP, which had created history in 2018 by wresting Tripura from the Left parties, was tipped to be ahead of its rivals in most exit-poll projections in the state.

The Congress and CPM, which have been archrivals for years, stitched a pre-poll alliance.