Shillong, March 3: National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad K. Sangma will likely be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term on March 7, 2023. His council of ministers will also be sworn-in on the day.

Reportedly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Conrad resigned as the CM of the previous government on Friday by handing over his resignation letter to Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan at the Raj Bhavan and at the same time also staked claim to form the new government.

He marched his MLAs and also submitted the letter of support from the BJP to the Governor. However, with the election results being announced only on Thursday, Conrad said some of the MLAs couldn’t make it to the meeting with the governor on Friday morning. Even so, he had the NPP MLAs and 2 BJP MLAs and Independent MLA from Baghmara, Kartus Marak, with him when to met the Governor.

With the MLAs visible, only 29 MLAs could be counted: 26 of NPP, 2 of BJP and 1 Independent MLA. NPP will require atleast 30 MLAs in the house of 59 MLAs to form the government; and 31 MLAs after the election for Sohiong constituency, which will raise MLAs in Assembly to 60.

Conrad is keeping cards close to his chest until the government is formed. He did not share the list of parties or MLAs he has support from except the BJP and Baghmara MLA, but assured that the NPP has the support from the required number of MLAs to form the new government.

He said the NPP will submit the list of MLAs to Governor by Friday evening after the Governor invited the party to form the government in the State.