Meghalaya: Regional parties hold key to forming govt

As the final tally in Meghalaya emerged by Saturday evening, leaders from both the BJP and Congress landed in Shillong to hedge furiously for post-poll alliances.

With 21 seats, the Congress has emerged as the single-largest party but does not have enough numbers on its side. Here the BJP ally's the Nationalist People's Party (NPP), will be a key player in the formation of government. The party, which got 19 seats, has made great inroads since the last Assembly elections in 2013 when they managed only two.

Speaking to dna, NPP leader Conrad Sangma said the picture will be clearer late Saturday night, or early Sunday morning.

"There's no choice but for us to go forward with alliances with other regional parties. We are still talking to different parties, have made our proposals and are trying to unite all the leaders on an anti-Congress front. It all depends on them (regional parties) now," said Sangma.

Formed by former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, the NPP has made great strides in the Northeast in the last few years. It helped the BJP form governments in Manipur, Nagaland and even Rajasthan. In Meghalaya, the party's stock has risen steadily in the last five years.

In an earlier interview, Sangma told dna that the change of guard in Delhi and in the northeast, added with the Congress going down in the region has led to a vacuum. "We see this as an opportunity. The party is focused on the Northeast, in the tribal issues of the region, and the religious minorities here," Sangma had said.

Conrad Sangma has largely been seen as a credible CM face from the BJP alliance. Yet, when asked, he brushed aside the question. "It's too early to say whether I will be the CM or not, it's for the MLAs will decide," he said.