Kohima: The Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which won seven seats in the Nagaland Assembly, on Saturday said it would soon decide whether to join the NDPP-BJP government in the state or remain in the opposition. Addressing a press conference here, NCP national general secretary Narendra B Verma said the issue was thoroughly discussed in the first meeting of the legislature party.
“I have taken the opinion of legislators and state party leaders. The final decision on whether to join the government or stay in the opposition and the leader of the legislature party will be taken by the high command,” he said. In Delhi in the next few days, I will brief national president Sharad Pawar after I am back and on Sunday,” Verma said.
The NCP had fielded candidates for 12 seats in the 60-member assembly for the elections held on February 27.
Verma said that the seven MLAs of the party would work for the welfare of the downtrodden people of the state.
He said that the NCP would also support the demand of the Nagas for an early resolution of the peace talks.
Meanwhile, senior NPP legislator Timothy D Shira was on Saturday sworn in as the Pro-tem Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Shira, MLA from Resubelpara, was administered oath by Governor Fagu Chauhan at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of outgoing Chief Minister Konrad K Sangma and senior NPP leaders.
Sangma had on Friday staked claim to form the next government in the state with the support of 31 MLAs. These include 26 MLAs of NPP, two each of BJP and HSPDP and two independents.