Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was sworn into office for the second consecutive term by Governor Phagu Chauhan on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose saffron party is a junior partner in the Conrad Sangma alliance was also present at the swearing-in ceremony. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda were also present.
The NPPs (National People's Party) Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar were sworn in as Sangma's deputies. BJP's Alexander Laloo Hek, UDP's (United Democratic Party) Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, and Shakliar Warjri of the HSPDP (Hill State People's Democratic Party) took oath as state ministers. In total, the Meghalaya cabinet had 7 from the NPP, two from UDP, and one each from BJP and HSPDP.
Speaking to reporters after being sworn in the Meghalaya Chief Minister said, "We will continue to work on the foundations we have laid in the last 5 years for the development of the state. We are giving a lot of importance to youth and employment. The overall efficiency with which benefits of various schemes are reaching the grassroots level has improved." Sangma also informed news agency ANI that the portfolios of various ministers sworn in will be distributed in the next 24 to 48 hours.
About the difficulties in forming the coalition ahead of the election, Sangma told ANI that there are always differences that come up while forming an alliance...what is important is that we should work together and find a way to amicably resolves issues. "As we go forward we will ensure that we have better coordination and work as a strong team," he said.
Also read: Meghalaya: Conrad Sangma government 2.0 to be sworn in tomorrow; MLAs to take oath today
The NPP's former partners in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, the People's Democratic Front (PDF) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) came in support of Conrad Sangma on March 4 and 5 respectively raising the total number of MLAs backing the outgoing CM to 45. The UDP won 11 seats in the elections, and the PDF two.
The BJP which won two seats in the Assembly elections this time had earlier extended their support to Sangma. The Sangma coalition also had the support of two MLAs from the Hill State People's Democratic Party and two Independents. Sangma's NPP won 26 seats in this election.
Earlier on Saturday, D Shira was sworn in as the Pro-term Speaker in the Assembly. He will be administer the oath of office to the newly elected legislators in a special assembly session. The new House which has 59 members will be adjourned after its first sitting on March 6, the Assembly Secretariat said. The Assembly will meet again on March 9 to elect the Speaker.
Sangma's party came second-in-line after the Congress in the 2018 Meghalaya legislative assembly election. His party needed 30 seats to form the government. The NPP allied with other regional parties and staked claim to form the government by having the support of 34 MLAs. His Meghalaya Democratic Alliance included 19 from his own party, six from the United Democratic Party, four from People's Democratic Front, two each from Hill State People's Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party, and an independent. (With agency inputs)
