National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sangma on Tuesday took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Meghalaya at a ceremony in Shillong that was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah.
Son of former Lok Sabha Speaker late PA Sangam, Conrad Sangma was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Ganga Prasad. He will head the NPP-led non-Congress government in the state.
After Sangma, the council of ministers were also sworn-in.
Congratulating the new CM, Rajnath Singh said that there was a perception that only Congress can thrive in the north-east but the BJP has changed that forever.
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The NPP managed to win 19 seats in the polls and got the support of 15 more legislators — including six from the United Democratic Party (UDP), four from People’s Democratic Party (PDP), two from BJP and one Independent legislator — taking the strength of the combined alliance to 32 in the 60-member House.
Another regional political party, Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP), had on Sunday announced support to Conrad Sangma-led NPP government, but the HSPDP on Monday expressed its unwillingness to become part of a government with the BJP.
But the alliance still has 32 legislators required to form the government.