The BJP has decided to support Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's National People’s Party in a post poll alliance to form the next government. The BJP's decision to enter into a post-poll alliance with NPP comes a day after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's late-night meeting with his Meghalaya counterpart in Guwahati.
Announcing the decision on Thursday, CM Sarma tweeted that BJP national president JP Nadda had advised the post-poll allioance to form the government in Meghalaya.
Sarma also said that Conrad Sangma had called Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek his support and blessings.
The National People's Party secured 26 seats, while the BJP bagged just 2 in the Meghalaya Assembly elections 2023. The BJP had won the same number of seats in the 2018 assembly election. The NPP, however, bettered its tally over the previous election, when it had won 20 seats.
To form a stable government, the alliance will need at least 31 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly. However, even after a post-poll alliance with the BJP and the NPP are falling short of the majority mark by three seats. With this, the predictions of a hung assembly in Meghalaya seems to be coming to a reality.
However, CM Sangma now has the option of going back to one or more of his old allies in the state to get to the majority mark.
Thanking the BJP, Meghalaya CM Sangma tweeted: "Thank you @BJP4Meghalaya for reaching out to the NPP and for extending your support to our party to form the Government. We will continue to work together to serve Meghalaya and its people."
According to news agency ANI, Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawrie reacted to the development, saying: "I received call from BJP National pres JP Nadda advising me to support NPP to form govt in Meghalaya. After that, I held a talk with CM Conrad Sangma. After consultation with the state team, I will submit the support letter tonight."