NCP leader Purno A Sangma, trying to install an alternative government in Meghalaya to replace E K Mawlong ministry reduced to minority, on Thursday met state's ailing governor M M Jacob in hospital even the chief minister said that he was ready to face a trial of strength in the assembly. Emerging from the meeting with Jacob, who was admitted in a hospital in Guwahati, Sangma told reporters that he did not discuss with the governor government formation and had met him to only wish speedy recovery. Sangma said that the efforts by People's Forum of Meghalaya (PFM), the new coalition he sewed featuring main opposition Congress, NCP and a splinter group of Mawlong's United Democratic Party (UDP), to form the alternative dispensation did not suffer setback due to Jacob's illness. “There is absolutely no danger to the PFM due to the governor's illness and my visit was to wish him a speedy recovery. The governor's illness will only delay the formation of government by some days and that is all,” Sangma said. Dr Tanmoy Das, director of Assam International Hospital, where Jacob was admitted, said that the governor is not likely to be released in the next three or four days.
Sangma said that PFM had the support of 42 MLAs in the 60-member assembly and it was 'absolutely clear' that it would form the next government after Mawlong ministry was reduced to minority on Nov 26.
Replying to a question, he ruled out another split in NCP after 13 of its MLAs had broken ranks to support Mawlong. All the MLAs, however, returned to NCP later. Bureau Report