The incumbent Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Congress leader Mukul Sangma has won in both his constituencies in the state.
While that may be good news for the Congress, which (as trends suggest) is the single largest party in the state, the party cannot ‘party’ yet. A hung House in the state means that the Congress will need to get more numbers to win the elections. Opposition parties are already calling it a “fractured mandate” against the Congress.
Sangma won by over 6,000 votes from Ampati, where he beat his nearest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rival Bakul Ch Hajong.
The incumbent CM won from his other constituency, Songsak, by over 1,300 votes as well, PTI reported. He defeated the National People’s Party candidate Nihim D Sara.
Sangma said on Saturday, 3 March, that the election results were not on expected lines and he would keep his cards close to his chest with regards to the Congress forming the government in the state, reported PTI.
His comments came as trends suggested Meghalaya was heading for a hung Assembly.
“The results were not on expected lines, but I am still looking forward,” he told PTI. Asked if the Congress would be able to form government again in Meghalaya, Sangma said he would not like to reveal his party’s plan now.
According to the available trends by CNN-News18 for Meghalaya at 4.55 pm, the Congress is leading in 21 seats and the NPP in 19, while the BJP is leading in two seats and other parties in 17.
The Congress has been in power in Meghalaya since 2003 and Sangma has been at the helm of affairs since 2010.
After the Assembly elections in Manipur and Goa threw hung verdicts last year, the BJP was able to form governments there with the help of smaller parties and Independents.
Facing a similar situation, the BJP asked Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to rush to Meghalaya for holding talks with smaller parties and Independents.
The Congress also rushed senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Kamal Nath to Shillong for the same.
(With inputs from PTI)
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