The Hindu : National : We will form coalition government: Lapang

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

We will form coalition government: Lapang

Sushanta Talukdar

Mandate is clearly for Congress: Meghalaya Chief Minister

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Victorious C.M.: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang being congratulated by his wife Amethyst Lapang on his winning the Nongpoh seat on Friday.

Guwahati: Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang on Friday said the Congress would form the next coalition government in the State, but declined to name the parties or independents on whom they were banking to achieve the magic number of 31.

The party won 25 out of 59 seats, six short of the majority mark.

Dr. Lapang told The Hindu that the mandate was clearly for the Congress to rule for another term in coalition with other parties. “People have expressed faith in the Congress and it has emerged the single largest party. Naturally we will form the next coalition government.”

Asked to name the parties whose support the Congress planned to take, he said: “Why should I tell it now. Let it remain confined to ourselves. We will let you know at the right time.”

While the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won 14 seats, the United Democratic Party (UDP) got 11, the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) two, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) one and independents five. The Bharatiya Janata Party won only one seat.

In 2003, the Congress won 22 seats but its strength rose to 29 after six NCP legislators joined it and the party won another seat in a by-election.

Of the five former Chief Ministers, who were in the fray, three won. The losers were Salseng C. Marak and F.A. Khonglam. The former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno Sangma, won from the Tura constituency, J.D. Rymbai from Jirang and E.K. Mawlog from Umroi. Mr. Rymbai quit the Congress ahead of the polls after he was denied ticket. He won as a UDP candidate.

Victorious candidates of the NCP included Mr. Sangma’s sons James P.K. Sangma (from Rongchuguri), and Conrad K. Sangma (from Selsella).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National