National People's Party leader Conrad Sangma was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Meghalya today along with 11 ministers who took oaths as well. The oath and office of secrecy was administered by Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad at the Raj Bhavan.
Conrad Sangma will head a five-party coalition government comprising of the United Democratic Party(UDP), People's Democratic Front(PDF), Hill State People's Democratic Party(HSPDP), the BJP, besides an independent lawmaker.
Conrad Sanga, son of late Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, held the position of the Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2013. In March 2016 he was elected as the national president of the NPP following his father's death earlier that year. He has previously also served as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
In the recently concluded state election the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats. However, the party failed to bring the small regional parties under one umbrella as was the case in Goa and Manipur.
On the other hand, BJP with a mere two seats, took the initiative to form a government and brought together all the parties comprising of NPP with 19 seats, six from UDP, four from PDF and two from HSPDP, besides independent lawmaker Samuel Sangma.
