SHILLONG, March 3 - Electorates in Meghalaya have not given a clear verdict and there is a hung Assembly with no party coming anywhere close to 31 seat mark in the House of 60 members to form the Government.
The regional parties are now the kingmakers in Government formation. Regional parties such as United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People�s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) would now decide whether National People�s Party (NPP) or Congress forms the Government.
Although pre-poll ally HSPDP-UDP didn�t perform well compared to the last election, their combined strength of eight seats puts these two parties in a strong bargaining position in Government formation.
However, new entrant PDF performed exceedingly well winning four seats. But, the party chairman, PN Syiem, a former Congress legislator and a known opponent of CM Mukul Sangma, lost the election from Mawsynram constituency.
HSPDP president, Ardent Basaiawmoit has also lost the election from Nongkrem seat. UDP president and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy barely scrapped through in Shella constituency winning by 370 votes.
There are two combinations possible at this moment that could be stitched together. NPP-BJP and regional parties could come together and form the Government or the regional parties can go with Congress.
For the regional parties neither BJP-NPP nor Congress is an untouchable. It all depends on how Congress and BJP leaders manage to convince these regional parties. Moreover, in these tight situations there are three Independents who won the elections. They too would play a crucial role.
To cobble up an alliance Congress has gone into a huddle with top leaders being flown here. Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Kamal Nath, Mukul Wasnik, CP Joshi together with State leaders and Shillong MP, Vincent Pala are holding parleys in the State capital.
The BJP is sending Assam Education Minister and North East Democratic Alliance convener, Himanta Biswa Sarma to talk with the regional parties. The regional parties have also gone into a huddle to decide where they would extend their support. Interestingly, Meghalaya is one of the few states in the country which has witnessed an all party Government.
