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Meghalaya: BJP, UDP extend support to NPP to form non-Congress government

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Mar 04, 2018, 10:12 AM IST
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Sarma said the BJP will encourage smaller parties and independents to join hands with the NPP to form the next government in Meghalaya. Photograph:(ANI)

After the Meghalaya polls threw a hung verdict, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) Sunday extended support to the second largest party NPP to form a non-Congress government in the hill state.

However, the BJP said they will only extend support once the regional outfit takes an initiative in this regard. 

National People's Party (NPP) bagged the second-highest 19 seats in the just concluded 60-member assembly state. 

Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said the verdict of the assembly elections in Meghalaya was against the Congress, which ruled the state for a decade, and against incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

"We want the NPP to take the initiative and the BJP will provide full cooperation. We are here to help form a non-Congress government," he told reporters here.

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Sarma said the BJP will encourage smaller parties and independents to join hands with the NPP to form the next government in Meghalaya.

He said the saffron party would not like to take the lead in government formation even though it is ready to talk to everyone unofficially to form a government.

In the 60-member assembly, the Congress, which had been in power, bagged 21 seats, the NPP, led by Conrad Sangma, son of late PA Sangma, got 19 seats, the BJP got two seats, the United Democratic Party bagged six seats, the People's Democratic Front bagged four seats, the Hill State People's Democratic Party got two seats, the NCP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement got one each and independents bagged three seats.