SHILLONG: The newly-constituted alliance among NPP-BJP-HSPDP- UDP and PDF that is set to form a non-Congress Government in Meghalaya, is already running through rough waters even before the swearing ceremony is held.
One of the constituents, the HSPDP which secured two seats in the Assembly polls, has expressed its unhappiness over the way the UDP bulldozed its way to name Conrad Sangma as the Chief Minister of the state without consulting HSPDP.
Speaking to media persons after holding an emergent meeting of the party, HSPDP president, Ardent Basaiawmoit said that it was not the job of the UDP to decide as to who will be the leader of the NPP and the Chief Minister of the state.
“We feel embarrassed as we were not consulted while the decision was taken to elect the Chief Minister of the state,” he said
In addition, the HSPDP is also averse to the idea of including BJP into the coalition even as he added that the party (HSPDP) may not be a part of any government formation as it does not want BJP in the alliance.
“We don’t want to betray the people of the State as we had expressed our reservations against the BJP,” Basaiawmoit said while addressing newsmen on Monday.
The HSPDP has already conveyed its stand to the UDP leadership and they are awaiting a response in this regard.
Basaiawmoit also feels that the regional forces in Meghalaya minus the Congress and the BJP can easily form the Government as they have the numbers to form the Government, adding the party would welcome an alliance between NPP-UDP-HSPDP and PDF.
When asked about the two HSPDP MLAs who were already paraded by Conrad Sangma before the Governor, Basaiawmoit said that the two MLAs were made to sign the letter of support under the perception that the decision for having an a NPP-BJP-HSPSDP- UDP and PDF alliance was taken between the leadership of HSPDP and UDP which was not the case.
“We did not expect that UDP will propose the name of Conrad Sangma. It is not the job of the UDP to advise NPP on the matter and we would love to have an elected MLA from NPP becoming the Chief Minister,” he told reporters.
Stating that Prestone Tynsong may have been the right person to lead the state, the party leaders made it clear that the HSPDP will not participate in the Swearing ceremony scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
He also expressed hope that the two HSPDP MLAs would not attend the swearing ceremony on Tuesday.