SHILLONG, MAR 1: The Congress staked its claim to form the government together with the support of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and eight Independent legislators.
In what is being seen as an intervention to thwart any attempt by Mukul Sangma’s rival to claim the CLP leadership, Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Mukul Sangma as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP).
Sonia Gandhi’s direct intervention appointing Sangma as the CLP leader who will subsequently take over as the chief minister is being seen as a reward for defeating PA Sangma led Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) candidate in what is his traditional bastion in Garo Hills. The Congress won 13 out of the 24 seats with the NPP managing only two seats.
Union Minister of Steel and the Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Vayallar Ravi told reporters, “The ultimate decision of the Congress president was accepted unanimously and the CLP elected Mukul Sangma as its leader,”
After being “elected” as CLP leader Sangma along with Ravi, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress president DD Lapang, AICC general secretary Sanjay Bapna, Prestone Tynsong, HDR Lyngdoh and Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala and others met the Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary and stake claim to form the government.
The swearing in ceremony is like to take place on March 5 only after the Election Commission issues a notification dissolving the eighth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
After meeting Mooshahary, Sangma said, “Tentatively by Tuesday the swearing in would be held after the notification from the Election Commission is issued.”
Sangma, however, refused to give any indication regarding the composition of his council of minister. He only said his cabinet will have equal representation from all the districts:- By Our Reporter
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