Meghalaya Election Result 2023: Conrad Sangma submits letter of support of 32 MLAs to guv, stakes claim to form govt

National People's Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma on Friday called on Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan and submitted to him the letter of support of 32 MLAs, while staking claim to form the government in the northeastern state. Sangma, the outgoing chief minister, said he has the support of BJP, HSPDP and two Independent MLAs, while asserting the total tally may go up in the coming days as he is in touch with other parties as well. (PTI)

The new Meghalaya government will lay focus on sectors like farming, tourism, infrastructure, health and youth, outgoing chief minister Conrad K Sangma said on Friday. In an interview to PTI shortly after staking claim to form government led by the National People's Party (NPP), its supremo Sangma said he wants to "do things differently".

Post-poll violence that erupted in at least three assembly constituencies in Meghalaya left several people injured, while one person was found dead in a mysterious circumstance, officials said on Friday. Several incidents of violence were reported in Mariang constituency in Eastern West Khasi Hills, Shella in East Khasi Hills and Mokaiaw in West Jaintia Hills, where prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC were clamped, they said. A number of vehicles parked in the compound of the deputy commissioner's office in Mairang were set on fire, a senior district official told PTI.

National People's Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma on Friday called on Meghalaya governor Phagu Chauhan and staked claim to form the government in the northeastern state. Sangma, the outgoing chief minister, claimed that he has an "absolute majority with more than 32 MLAs" on his side in the 60-member assembly but refused to give details of supporting parties. Addressing a press conference before going to Raj Bhawan, Sangma said, "We have an absolute majority. The BJP has already extended its support. Some others have also given their support." State BJP president Ernest Mawrie told PTI that NPP has the support of 34 MLAs as the party has the backing of legislators of Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), People's Democratic Front (PDF) and Independents, besides those of the saffron party. (PTI)

BJP barely survived the battle for Meghalaya on Thursday with two seats after boldly going it alone, leaving the prospect of it returning to government resting on the now stronger shoulders of CM Conrad K Sangma and his NPP.
Sangma’s party, against whom BJP had levelled serious corruption charges during a campaign fronted by PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, won 26 seats, six more than in the previous election.
NPP’s performance wasn’t the only surprise. United Democratic Party (UDP), the largest regional political outfit in the hill state, finished as the secondlargest party with 11 seats, five more than what it had in the outgoing assembly. Debutant Voice of the People Party was the other outperformer, winning four seats, including North Shillong.
Conrad said without mentioning BJP that the result was a reflection of voters’ belief that development and change did come to the state in the last five years.
This is for the first time in Meghalaya politics that a regional party is in line to form a second consecutive government. NPP, which won 19 seats in 2018, had BJP and UDP as partners in the outgoing coalition.
For Conrad, who retained the South Tura seat, there was a personal setback when his brother James Pangsang K Sangma failed to retain Dadenggre, falling short by seven votes.
BJP’s two seats were at least 10 less than projected by the saffron party’s campaign managers.
Trinamool Congress, led by former Congress CM Mukul Sagma, won five seats on its electoral debut in the state. Mukul won the Songsak seat but was defeated in Tikrikilla. His daughter Miani D Shira retained the Ampati seat while wife Dikkanchi D Shira lost in Mahendraganj.
Congress, the single largest party with 21 seats in the 2018 election, cut a sorry figure in the face of an NPP and UDP onslaught. The party was ahead of only BJP with five seats, making this the first instance of the grand old party getting less than 20 seats in Meghalaya.
According to agency reports, Sangma is likely to meet governor Phagu Chauhan on Friday morning to stake claim to form the next government. Sangma will go to Raj Bhawan at 11:30 am on Friday and meet the governor. “The MLAs of NPP and other allies will accompany him. Theywill stake claim to form the next government,” the official said. Before meeting the governor, Sangma will address a press conference.

Incumbent Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma made a frantic phone call to Union home minister Amit Shah Thursday evening — hours after the assembly results threw up a hung verdict, with the former’s National People’s Party emerging as the single largest party — setting the ball rolling for a possible NPP-led NDA government in the state for a second consecutive term.
Almost immediately, BJP, which fought elections against ally NPP, winning just two seats, offered its letter of support to Sangma. Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie wrote to the CM saying that at the directions of the party’s national president, JP Nadda, “I do hereby formally communicate with you and submit a ‘Letter of Support’ for the institution of the new government as an outcome of the results of the assembly elections. ”
However, NPP, with 26 seats, would still fall short of two legislators to reach the magic figure of 30 for forming the government.
Though Sangma is the natural choice as CM to lead an alliance with BJP, the postpoll alliance scenario isn’t clear as his government might have to explore the option of seeking support from United Democratic Party (UDP), which won 11 seats. But wooing former ally UDP will not be an easy task for Sangma as UDP chief Pilne A Sangma quit NDA demanding the chief minister’s post for the Khasi tribe, a bone of contention between the two regional parties of Meghalaya.
With UDP emerging as the second largest party, winning five seats more than in last elections, there is already speculation in political circles that it will stake claim to a larger share in power this time. In the past five years, UDP had played the role of a ‘deputy’ in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

The Congress on Thursday termed Meghalaya's NPP seeking the support of its erstwhile partner BJP to form the next government in the state as a "paradox" after the saffron party's central leadership described the Conrad K Sangma dispensation as one of the "most corrupt" in the country.Talking to PTI, Congress MLA Ronny V Lyngdoh, who won from the Mylliem assembly constituency, said the opposition will continue to work with like-minded parties despite facing a defeat."There lies the paradox. Union Home Minister Amit Shah says that this (NPP) is the most corrupt government. How can they work with the same party?" Lyngdoh mentioned.

The United Democratic Party (UDP), the biggest regional political outfit in the hill state, has emerged as the ‘power point’ after the assembly elections by becoming the second single-largest party by winning an impressive 11 seats, three more than what it has in the outgoing assembly. Only behind the National People’s Party (NPP), which increased its strength to 26, the UDP is now certainly the all important party, the postpoll maneuvers of which will decide the formation of government and the political future of Meghalaya.

The Conrad Sangma-led NPP has won 26 seats, seven more than in 2018, despite tough challenges from its former ally, BJP, and TMC and other local parties. Elections were held in 59 of the 60 constituencies after polls in Sohiong were countermanded following the death of a UDP candidate. “We won so many seats because of the development and change that we brought about in the state over the last five years,” Conrad said after the results were out on Thursday

The first election that the US and UK-trained Conrad Sangma, who now runs the National People's Party (NPP) formed by his father PA Sangma, fought in 2004 had resulted in a narrow defeat. However, since then, the 45-year-old has emerged as a powerful politician in his father's mould, growing stronger by the election. This election, his party seems likely to form a government in Shillong possibly with the BJP and the United Democratic Party in tow as the three previous allies inch to cross the half-way mark in the 60-strong assembly. (PTI)

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma wins from South Tura seat by margin of 5,016 votes.

Union home minister Amit Shah thanks people of Meghalaya for support to BJP. Says party will leave no stone unturned in serving people. (PTI)

Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday asserted that an individual candidate was more important than a party in the hill state. The NPP leader, who won from Pynursla constituency, said the party hoped to get an absolute majority, but a different mandate was given by the people. (PTI)

NPP: 25, Congress: 5, BJP: 3, Others, 26

NPP retains Rongara Siju seat as it candidate Rakkam A Sangma wins by a margin of over 3,000 votes. It is the fifth seat NPP has pocketed till now.

TMC opens its account by wining the Rajabala seat as its candidate Mizanur Rahman Kazi defeats NPP candidate Abdus Saleh after giving a neck-and-neck fight. He won by a thin margin of just 10 votes.

Meghalaya assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh of UDP wins Mairang seat by 155 votes; HSPDP's Shakliar Warjri defeats cabinet minister Brolding Nongsiej in Mawthadraishan seat by 2,353 votes: CEO

NPP wins four seats till now. CM Conrad Sangma's brother James Pangsang K Sangma lost Dadenggre constituency to TMC candidate Rupa M Marak by a thin margin of 7 votes.

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya won two seats, and was leading in 21 other constituencies, the Election Commission said on Thursday as the counting of votes for the assembly elections was under way. The UDP was ahead in nine constituencies, while the BJP and the Trinamool Congress were ahead in five seats each, and the Congress and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) were leading in four seats each. The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and the People's Democratic Front were ahead in two constituencies each.

Neck-and-neck fight between TMC and NPP in Songsak. Former CM Mukul Sangma (4,403 votes) is leading against NPP candidate Nihim D Shira (4,024 votes) by a difference of 379 votes

NPP's Sniawbhalang Dhar wins Nartiang seat by 2,123 votes, defeating Congress candidate Emlang Laloo

Meghalaya Election Results 2023 Live: NPP candidate Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh is leading in East Shillong by a margin of just 3 votes. INC candidate Manuel Badwar is trailing.

BJP state president Ernest Mawrie is not even in fight in West Shillong constituency. United Democratic Party candidate Paul Lyngdoh is leading with over 6,000 votes while NPP candidate Mohendro Rapsang is trailing with 2,920 votes.

Meghalaya Election Results 2023 Live: Former CM and TMC leader Mukul Sangma leading in Songsak constituency while trailing in Tikrikilla constituency

Meghalaya Election Results 2023 Live: CM Conrad K Sangma leading in South Tura constituency by 44 votes against his nearest rival Bernard N Marak of BJP

According to latest TV reports, NPP leading in 24 seats, followed by BJP and Congress (6 each), whereas others were leading in 23 seats.