Click to play videoShillong: In Meghalaya, both the ruling Congress and the opposition NCP-UDP coalition have staked claims to form the next government.
The NCP-UDP coalition, which is calling itself the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance, paraded 30 MLAs before the Governor SS Sidhu on Friday, which constitutes a simple majority in the 60-member Assembly.
Chief Minister DD Lapang of the Congress separately met the Governor to stake claim to form a Congress-led government. The party is the single largest party with 25 seats.
"Both sides have made their claims with certain numbers and I shall consider these to the best of my personal judgment," the Governor said.
But the Governor said his priority is to first appoint a pro-tem Speaker for the time being who would swear in the new MLAs. "After this, my priority will be to ensure that a stable government in place and that horse-trading is totally discouraged in the larger interest of the state," he said.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, who led the NCP charge and was elected along with his two sons, was not present. UDP President Donkupar Roy is projected as the MPA's chief ministerial candidate.
Lapang said after being elected Congress legislature party leader that "We are the single largest party, and as per norms we should be invited to form the government."
Asked how the party would get to the magic number of 31, Lapang, said, "We are looking for friends. We are confident of getting them, and we will prove our majority on the floor of the house."
Lapang refused to divulge the names of the 'friends' the Congress was communicating for eliciting support.
While the Congress reportedly claimed to have the support of independents, the MPA led by the NCP-UDP combine paraded 30 members, including two from HSPDP, one each from KHNAM and BJP and two independents, putting their tally at 31.
In the election to the 60-member legislature, results of which were announced on Friday, the Congress emerged as the single largest party winning 25 seats, followed by the NCP with 14 seats, the UDP 11, independents five, HSPDP two, and the BJP and the KHNAM one each.
Elections were countermanded in the Baghmara Assembly constituency following the death of a candidate.
The state has seen six different governments with varied combinations of political parties, resulting in four chief ministers in a span of five years between 1998 and the last Assembly elections in 2003.
There were only two occasions when a chief minister was able to complete his full five-year term since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972.
After meeting the Governor, Roy said of the five independents, they have already received the support of two independents from Garo hills and two others have expressed willingness to join them.
The MPA has already formulated a common minimum programme, promising to allot ministerial berths to the two members of the HSPDP (including one of deputy chief minister), one to KHNAM, while the rest would be shared between the UDP and NCP. Sangma is unlikely to be in the government.
"We have pledged to give a stable government for five years, and all the members have signed an agreement to this effect," Roy said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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