The Congress on Sunday said it has managed to make inroads into the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) formed by the United Democratic Party and the NCP and was confident of forming the next government.State Congress president O L Nongtdu said he was confident of forming the Government, though he did not reveal how his party would manage the requisite numbers. However, Congress sources said Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) president H S Lyngdoh—who is now in the MPA camp and has been offered the post of Deputy Chief Minister—had a phone conversation with D D Lapang and negotiations were still on.Congress sources said three other MLAs would follow Lyngdoh in case he switches sides. That would leave the Congress with 32 seats — including 25 party legislators and three Independents — in the House, which now has an effective strength of 59 legislators. “Lyngdoh is the key to forming a Congress-led coalition Government. As negotiations are still on, it means the Congress still has a chance of forming the Government,” a party leader added. Meanwhile, former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma asserted that Governor S S Sidhu must invite the MPA to form the next Government. “As per the Sarkaria Commission there is no compulsion that the Governor must invite the single largest party to form the Government,” he told reporters late on Saturday night. He said the Government can invite the single largest party if no one else came forward to form the Government. “Since we have already staked a claim to form the next Government, the Governor must invite us,” he added.
