A party meeting decided that the two MLAs of HSPDP will not take part in the swearing-in ceremony of Conrad K Sangma as chief minister on Tuesday, HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit told reporters in Shillong.

10:37 (ist)

NPP ally HSPDP attacks BJP's participation in ruling coalition day before swearing-in

The HSPDP, a constituency of the National People's Party (NPP)-led coalition that would form government in Meghalaya, said on Monday that the BJP should have been kept out of the alliance as the regional parties together had the required number.

"Our stand right from before the election was to have a non-Congress, non-BJP government. We now see there is a possibility to have such a government where the NPP-led coalition could have easily been formed with 32 MLAs," HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit said.

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Mar 06, 2018 - 11:09 (IST)

Rajnath Singh confident that Meghalaya will prioritise development with the new govt

Congratulations and my best wishes to Shri Conrad Sangma on being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. I am confident that he and his team of ministers will put the state back on a development track.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 6, 2018

Mar 06, 2018 - 11:06 (IST)

Rajnath Singh confident that Meghalaya will prioritise development with the new govt

Congratulations and my best wishes to Shri Conrad Sangma on being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. I am confident that he and his team of ministers will put the state back on a development track.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 6, 2018

Mar 06, 2018 - 11:05 (IST)

The National Anthem marks the end of the swearing-in ceremony in Shillong

Mar 06, 2018 - 11:04 (IST)

Conrad Sangma to lead govt with 34 MLAs

Conrad K Sangma has the support of 34 MLAs — the NPP (19 seats), the BJP (2), the UDP (6), the PDF (4), the HSPDP (2) and an Independent.

Mar 06, 2018 - 10:54 (IST)

Council of Ministers take oath of office in Shillong

Council of Ministers being sworn-in at oath ceremony in Meghalaya's Shillong pic.twitter.com/SUWZEQ34cZ
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018

Mar 06, 2018 - 10:52 (IST)

Even with most seats, Congress will sit in Opposition in Meghalaya

The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats in the elections, could not stitch a post-poll alliance with the regional parties to retain power.

Meghalaya is the second state, after Manipur and Goa, where the Congress has not been able to forge a post-poll alliance to form a government despite emerging as the largest single party.

Mar 06, 2018 - 10:48 (IST)

Rajnath Singh congratulates Conrad Sangma

I congratulate Conrad Sangma. There was a perception that only Congress party can survive in the north-east but now that BJP has gained victory here that perception will change: Union Minister Rajnath Singh in Shillong pic.twitter.com/jlecHyAquu
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018

Mar 06, 2018 - 10:47 (IST)

Meghalaya BJP leader AL Hek takes oath

Mar 06, 2018 - 10:44 (IST)

Meghalaya gets a new chief minister

NPP's Conrad Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya chief minister pic.twitter.com/xBmGgaqeni
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018

Mar 06, 2018 - 10:43 (IST)

Follow live video coverage of the event here

#WATCH Oath taking ceremony of Meghalaya CM elect Conrad Sangma and others in Shillong https://t.co/uraKkvfdhQ
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018

Latest update: Preparations are underway for the swearing-in ceremony for the new Meghalaya government.

The first non-Congress government in 15 years in Meghalaya is set to be sworn-in on Tuesday morning.

Conrad Sangma will take charge as chief minister, following an Assembly election that threw up a fractured mandate and disagreements within the various factions of the alliance that ultimately joined hands.

File image of NPP leader Conrad Sangma. Twitter @sangmaconrad

A party meeting also decided that the two MLAs it has will not take part in the swearing-in ceremony of Conrad K Sangma as chief minister on Tuesday, HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit told reporters in Shillong.

The Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) has won two seats in the election, but its president has lost to an independent candidate by only 76 votes.

"Our stand right from before the election was to have a non-Congress non-BJP government. We now see there is a possibility to have such a government where the NPP-led coalition could have easily been formed with 32 MLAs," Basaiawmoit said.

In the 60-member Assembly with an effective strength of 59, at least 30 seats is required to form majority.

Conrad K Sangma has the support of 34 MLAs - his own party the NPP (19 seats), the BJP (2), the UDP (6), the PDF (4), the HSPDP (2) and an Independent.

The Congress was the single largest party bagging 21 seats.

The HSPDP chief said the regional parties together had the required number to form government.

The party's two MLAs are signatories to the letter of support to the NPP-led coalition government.

Updated Date: March 06, 2018 11:08:59 IST

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