SHILLONG, March 5: Like a perfect fairy tale end, NPP and UDP are bhai bhai again! After a bitter election campaign followed by frenzied political atmosphere, the frenemies of MDA 1.0 are back as friends to guide the destiny of the state for the next five years.
The dramatic volte face by UDP, the second largest regional party in the new House, came on Sunday after party’s top leadership took the safest option of joining the coalition led by Conrad Sangma.
UDP, which has 11 members, was accompanied by PDF which, it seems, had already made up its mind to sit in the treasury benches.
With this huge political development, the NPP-led alliance’s strength has gone up to a formidable 45. The coalition now has NPP (26), UDP (11), PDF (2), BJP (2), HSPDP (2), and Independent (2) in the House of 59.
The opposition will comprise Congress (5), TMC (5) and VPP (4).
Letters from UDP and PDF extending support were handed over to Conrad Sangma bringing much relief to him. With this, the spectre of stalemate and confrontation has blown over.
In the letter of support, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh lauded the party’s performance, resulting in the resounding victory.
“In light of the people’s mandate, I on behalf of the Parliamentary Party of the United Democratic Party do hereby extend support for government formation,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, PDF president Gavin Miguel Mylliem in the letter of support said, “The party would like to submit a letter of support for the formation of the new government as an outcome of the recently concluded general assembly elections in order to ensure the stability of the government and also work in unity for the prosperity of the state and its people as a whole.”
“The party is looking forward to working once again with the NPP-led Government,” Mylliem said.
Conrad Sangma thanked UDP and PDF for extending support for forming the government in Meghalaya.
Taking to Twitter, he said, “Thank you UDP and PDF for coming forward to join the NPP to form the Government. The strong support from homegrown political parties will further strengthen us to serve Meghalaya and its people.”
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the UDP has demanded the post of Deputy CM, besides two ministerial berths. It is believed that the UDP president will be the Deputy CM, while Kyrmen Shylla and Lahkmen Rymbui may get ministerial berths.
The PDF has also asked for a ministerial berth, according to reports.
Sources said, in its second avatar MDA is likely to apply the tried and tested formula of accommodating an MLA each from all constituent parties.
As was the case last time, the two MLAs of the BJP are likely to split the term in half as ministers in MDA 2.0.
AL Hek is likely to get the first shot at becoming a cabinet minister after his name was approved by the party leadership in New Delhi.
The NPP, which won 26 seats this time compared to 19 five years ago, is expected to get bigger share of berths. Party insiders said, “The CM is personally looking into the berth allocation. We are not privy to the information.”
There are speculations that both the HSPDP legislators, Methodius Dkhar and Shakliar Warjri, may be rewarded for preventing the non-NPP and non-BJP parties from staking claim to form the government.