\u201cNegotiations are on between Central leaders of Congress and NCP for the formation of a new government in Meghalaya and It just a matter of time before that happened,\u201d Nongtdu said.
However, NCP national general secretary PA Sangma rebutted Congress\u2019 claims and maintained that his party would remain in the MPA Government till completion of its full term.
\u201cI do not follow the directions of the central high command since I abide by the decision of the lower command,\u201d Sangma, the architect of MPA government said. The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party, was short of just six seats to cross the majority threshold in the House.
In fact, the Congress required just three more legislators to tip the balance in their favour but failed to sway any. Ironically, they failed to sway any, despite giving them (rival legislators) to \u2018choose-n-pick\u2019 ministerial berth offer that time! With 15 legislators, the NCP is backing the United Democratic Party-led MPA government \u2013 with the support of Hill State People\u2019s Democratic Party, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, BJP and three Independent MLAs.
Sangma said even if there was a pre-poll alliance between the NCP and the Congress at the Centre and in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, it would not apply to Meghalaya.
\u201cThe dynamics of Meghalaya politics is entirely different from that of Maharastra and Karnataka,\u201d Sangma said.
In fact, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, who is a minister in the Congress-led UPA government, had said that he would never interfere into the state affairs of NCP in Meghalaya and leave the political affairs to Mr Sangma.
Meghalaya Congress Chief, however, said that Mr Sangma\u2019s instructing his MP daughter Agatha K Sangma to vote in favour of the UPA government was one step towards the Congress and NCP working together in the state.
\u201cHe (Sangma) may deny it, but negotiations are on for a possible alliance,\u201d Nongtdu said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"