SHILLONG, Feb 28: Ahead of the big announcement on Thursday, NPP boss Conrad Sangma and BJP strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma met in Guwahati on Tuesday in what can be perceived as an indication that a post-poll alliance in Meghalaya is in the making and it would most likely be revealed after the declaration of results of the Meghalaya Assembly elections.
The meeting took place at at Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati at 9 pm and lasted for about 30 minutes.
As per reports, their rendezvous was a confidential and crucial matter which followed the recent polling in Meghalaya.
Earlier in Guwahati, Himanta had asserted that there will be no hung assembly in Meghalaya as predicted in some exit polls, while claiming the NDA will form governments with absolute majority in all three northeastern states which include Nagaland and Tripura along with Meghalaya.
Now, the BJP and NPP are already partners in the MDA coalition government and the NDA at the Centre and BJP has given ample assertions that no government can be formed in Meghalaya without the BJP. When the MDA was formed, the BJP bagged only two seats in the house of 60 yet it became a part of the ruling dispensation.
This time around, the BJP is expecting to increase its seat tally as it has contested in all 60 seats.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the NEDA convenor, was speaking at a press conference in Guwahati when he said the chief minister will be decided in Meghalaya after considering the number of seats won by the BJP as he was asked about candidates for the chief minister’s post in the three states.
It may be noted that the BJP did not enter into pre-poll alliance with any party in the state, though it had an understanding with NPP. (With PTI inputs)
