Thursday, February 23 2006 19:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shillong: The NCP the main opposition party in Meghalaya today (Feb 23 2006) said it was 'open' to an idea of alliance with the ruling Congress party in the state.

This Tura Lok Sabha bypoll result in which P A Sanga defeated Congress nominee Mukul Sanga by more than one lakh votes is a clear indication for the coming general elections in 2008, which shows that Congress has lost its ground in Garo Hills and the wave is very much in favour of NCP, Conrad Sangma, national president of the party's Youth Wing, told sources here.

Inspite of 'chartering' a helicopter for nine days, national leaders of Congress like Oscar Fernandes, P R Kyndiah and Chie Minister D D Lapang camping and campaigning, the congress suffered a 'humiliating' defeat, Sangma said.

The NCP in Meghalaya is the largest opposition party against ruling Congress. Its candidate Purno Sangma defeated Congress' Mukul Sangma, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the state, by margin of 1,01,176 votes in the February 16 Lok Sabha bypoll.

Thanking the people of Garo Hills for electing Sangma for ninth time, Conrad Sangma, also the Spokesman of NCP Meghalaya state unit, said the bypoll result also showed that the people 'rejected' Congress and its nominee Mukul Sangma.

On the alliance issue with Congress, Sangma said although the party was 'open' to it, but a formal decision was to be taken by top leaders of both the outfits at the state and national levels.