BJP, Congress Scramble Top Leaders As Meghalaya Heads For Hung House

Shillong:  Adding Tripura to the growing list of states it rules in what it called a "historic verdict," the BJP quickly shifted its focus to Meghalaya today as votes were counted for assembly elections in three northeast states. The party's northeast strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma headed to state capital Shillong where the next few hours will see hectic negotiations with Meghalaya giving a majority to no party.

The Congress - which ruled the state for the last 10 years straight, eight of them with its senior leader Mukul Sangma as chief minister - is set to be the largest party. It is leading in 22 seats, eight short of the 31 seats needed to form government. As it became clear that there would be a hung assembly, top Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Ahmed Patel boarded a plane from Delhi for Shillong. The party, caught napping in two states last year that voted a hung assembly, is taking no chances this time.

"Associates have assured support in the last one hour. BJP is out of the fray, they are trying to create mischief. This shows their mischief," Mr Nath told NDTV.

The movement of top central leaders by the Congress is an attempt to ensure quick negotiations for the support of smaller parties and Independents to form government once all results are announced today.

The number 2 party - leading in 15 seats - is the National People's Party (NPP), founded by former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma and now led by his son and lawmaker Conrad Sangma. A partner of the BJP in the North East Democratic Alliance and also a member of the national alliance NDA that the BJP leads, the NPP contested the Meghalaya elections separately. As did another BJP partner the United Democratic Party, which is leading in six seats.

The BJP, making gains in a state where it had won no seats in 2013, is ahead in four. If the BJP swings into action to put together a post-poll alliance, these three parties are set to get 25 seats, six short of majority.

Other regional parties and Independents will play a key role - together they are ahead in 12 seats and could swing it either way with their support.

"Meghalaya is heading for a divided house. We will see how we can form a non-Congress government there," said senior BJP leader Ram Madhav.

In another northeast state last year, the BJP outwitted the Congress, which was the single largest party but failed to move quickly enough to form government. The BJP swiftly announced an alliance and formed government.


In Goa too, where elections were held at the same time, the BJP was second to the Congress but was quicker to contact regional parties and form government.

"The game they played in Manipur and Goa, people saw that. They kidnapped MLAs. This time we will not let them do that. We won't let the BJP break our party," said senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, insisting his party is well positioned to form government in the Meghalaya.

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In 2013, the Congress had won 29 of Meghalaya's 60 seats and had formed government with the help of Independents.

Votes were also counted today for the Nagaland elections, where the BJP and its ally NDDP are ahead.

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