Meghalaya Assembly Polls 2023: how BJP came to power in 2018 with just 2 seats

Fate of around 375 candidates is at stake in Meghalaya for 60 assembly seats.

While mainstream parties like Congress and BJP are contesting on all seats in the state, it is the local and regional parties, which will decide who holds power in the state. Let's take a look at some of the key players in the state politics.

National People’s Party (NPP)

Formed in 2013 by late Purno Agitok Sangma, the NPP has emerged as a major player in the state.

NPP is the first party from the northeast to get a national party status in 2019.

PA Sangma's son and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma is the current chief of the party.

Conrad was actively involved in stitching an alliance between NPP and BJP which helped thwart Congress, which emerged as the single largest player in 2018 polls.

NPP, which secured 19 seats in the 2018 polls, formed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) with the BJP, United Democratic Front (UDF), People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP).

However, things turned sour between NPP and BJP when BJP's state vice president Bernard Marak was arrested by Meghalaya Police on charges of running a brothel in the Garo Hills.

Conrad Sangma has announced to contest the upcoming polls solo, mounting trouble for its partner BJP.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Currently in power with its ally NPP, it will be an uphill task for the BJP this time as NPP has decided to go solo.

BJP-NPP ties hit rock bottom after Marak's arrest with party high command treading cautiously in the state.

Indian National Congress (INC)

Mukul Sangma led-Congress emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats in the 2018 assembly polls.

Despite the feat, the party could not form the government in the state owing to NPP's alliance with the BJP and other smaller, local players.

With BJP and NPP going their own ways this time around, it will be an opportunity for the Congress to gain and it might not shy away from making alliance with NPP as well.