Conrad Sangma takes oath as Meghalaya CM for second term, cabinet sworn-in

National People's Party chief Conrad Sangma was sworn in as Meghalaya chief minister - along with 11 others, including two deputy chief ministers - for a second consecutive term in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shillong on Tuesday.

Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan administered oath to the 12-member Council of Ministers, including NPP's Preston Tynsong and BJP's Alexander Laloo Hek. Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. A total of eight MLAs from the National People's Party (NPP), two from the UDP and one each from the BJP and HSPDP took the oath of secrecy as ministers in Sangma's cabinet at the Raj Bhavan.

Besides Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those present on the occasion. Marcuse N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and AT Mondal were among those from JE who were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers. BJP's AL Hek, UDP's Paul Lyngdoh and HSPDP's Kyrmen Shylla and Shakliar Warjri were also sworn in as ministers.

Earlier in the day, Sangma Tuesday attended a prayer meeting with all cabinet ministers before they all left for the Raj Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony. The JE-led alliance, with the support of 45 MLAs, two from the BJP, has staked its claim to form the government in the state. Sangma won from South Tura constituency by a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bernard N Marak.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) won 11 seats in Thursday's parliamentary elections. Congress won five seats. The Trinamool Congress, which fielded all Congress MLAs in the previous Assembly, also won five seats. BJP, People's Democratic Front and Hill State People's Democratic Party won two seats each. The People's Party vote won four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates. BJP and NPP were partners in the outgoing government but fought the assembly elections separately.