Conrad K. Sangma will take oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term on Tuesday after successfully leading his National People's Party to a major victory in the assembly elections. In Nagaland, NDPP president Neiphiu Rio is all set to be sworn as the chief minister for the fifth term .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend both the functions.
"All preparations are on for the Prime Minister's visit tomorrow. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister and his cabinet members at the Raj Bhavan," a senior Meghalaya government official said on Monday. Security has been beefed up in Shillong ahead of the PM's visit.
The NPP, which bagged 26 of the 59 seats, staked claim to form the government after the BJP, UDP and HSDP extended their support, taking the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance's total strength to 45.
Sangma said the NPP will take eight cabinet berths while the UDP with 11 MLAs will get two. The BJP and HSPDP with two MLAs each will get one berth each. According to the rule, Meghalaya with a 60-member assembly cannot have more than 12 ministers including the CM.
Fifty-eight newly elected members of the Meghalaya assembly took oath on Monday with pro-tem speaker Timothy D. Shira administering the oath of office and secrecy to them. Shira, the MLA of Resubelpara, was sworn in, as the pro-tem speaker of the assembly, by Governor Phagu Chauhan at the Raj Bhavan on March 4.
Meanwhile, Rio staked his claim to form the government in Nagaland only on Monday evening though counting was held on March 2. He met Governor La Ganesan at around 6 pm after the NDPP and BJP leaders submitted their joint declaration for the government formation and support to him.
The BJP-NDPP alliance bagged 37 of the 60 seats in the state which appears to be heading for an oppositionless government as all other elected parties have supported it unconditionally.
The BJP Legislature Party in presence of its national spokesperson Nalin Kohli and observer Ranjit Das unanimously re-elected Yanthungo Patton as its leader. He will be the deputy chief minister.
BJP sources said Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J.P. Nadda will also be present at the swearing-in to be held at around 1.30 pm.
On Wednesday, Modi will attend the swearing-in of the Manik Saha government in Tripura.
With PTI inputs
