Mukul Sangma to be sworn in as 23rd CM of Meghalaya on Mar 5

Mukul Sangma, who steered the Congress to retain power in Meghalaya, today met Governor R S Mooshahary to formally stake claim to form the government and will be sworn as the 23rd chief minister of the state on March 5.

"Tentative day that has been indicated is on Tuesday," 47-year-old Sangma, who is set to become chief minister for a second straight term, said after meeting Mooshahary.

Though Congress fell two seats short of an absolute majority winning 29, Sangma has been given support by eight Independents and 2 NCP MLAs and is comfortably placed to form the government with the strength of the party and its supporters going up to 39 in the 60-member House.

On the support extended by the NCP and independents, he said, "We will be discussing with them to know their minds and their expectations. We intend to share the responsibility in serving the people."

Earlier in the day, Sangma was elected the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

MPCC chief and former chief minister D D Lapang, who chaired the CLP meeting said, "Mukul Sangma has been elected unanimously as the leader of the CLP and the Congress high command has approved of this."

Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi, who was here to oversee the government formation along with AICC general secretary in charge of Meghalaya Mukul Wasnik and Sanjay Bhapna, said he was confident that Sangma would be the chief minister for a full five-year term.

Sangma said "We have made a humble beginning in addressing the core issue of backwardness and poverty.

"We have also reflected our intention of addressing the core issue of unemployment problem -- addressing the root cause of the problem which often leads to militancy," he said.

"We expect support and cooperation from the people. I am sure the people deserve a better future and that is what we exactly want to deliver," he asserted.

... contd.

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