<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/conrad-sangma-to-take-oath-as-meghalaya-chief-minister-today-34798">National </a>People&#39;s Party(NPP) leader Conrad Sangma was today sworn-in as Meghalaya chief minister after he took oath in a glittering ceremony attended by BJP president Amit Shah and home minister Rajnath Singh.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NPP&#39;s Conrad Sangma takes oath as Meghalaya CM in Shillong. <a href="https://t.co/bDZB4KnLM7">pic.twitter.com/bDZB4KnLM7</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/970889076516773888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>In a much-anticipated&nbsp;oath-taking&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/conrad-sangma-to-take-oath-as-meghalaya-chief-minister-today-34798">ceremony, </a>NPP&nbsp;president Conrad Sangma&#39;s party members arrived in Shillong today to take oath to form the new government in&nbsp;Meghalaya&nbsp;as the BJP helped to setup another government in the North East.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-conrad-sangma-the-new-chief-minister-of-meghalaya-34833">Read: Who is Conrad Sangma?</a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Council of Ministers being sworn-in at oath ceremony in Meghalaya&#39;s Shillong <a href="https://t.co/SUWZEQ34cZ">pic.twitter.com/SUWZEQ34cZ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/970892378017095681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Last week Meghalaya polls <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dont-see-maturity-in-rahul-gandhi-himanta-biswa-on-congress-staking-claim-to-form-govt-in-meghalaya-34643">had thrown up a hung assembly</a>, however, to break the deadlock the BJP along with the United Democratic Party (UDP) extended support to the NPP after it bagged the second largest seats - 19 in all - in the 60 member state assembly.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meghalaya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meghalaya</a> Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah arrive for oath taking ceremony of Meghalaya CM elect Conrad Sangma &amp; others in Shillong <a href="https://t.co/ehx91TcaUT">pic.twitter.com/ehx91TcaUT</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/970886677760823296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Although&nbsp;the Congress had bagged 21 seats but it wasn&#39;t able to cobble together a government as the Opposition was determined to form a &quot;non-Congress&quot; in the state.</p>

<p>During the polls, BJP got 2&nbsp;seats, the United Democratic Party bagged 6&nbsp;seats, the People&#39;s Democratic Front won 4 seats, the Hill State People&#39;s Democratic Party got 2&nbsp;seats, the NCP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement won one seat&nbsp;each and Independents bagged three seats.</p>


Congress which had bagged 21 seats wasn't able to cobble together a government

National People's Party(NPP) leader Conrad Sangma was today sworn-in as Meghalaya chief minister after he took oath in a glittering ceremony attended by BJP president Amit Shah and home minister Rajnath Singh. NPP's Conrad Sangma takes oath as Meghalaya CM in Shillong. pic.twitter.com/bDZB4KnLM7 — ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018 × In a much-anticipated oath-taking ceremony, NPP president Conrad Sangma's party members arrived in Shillong today to take oath to form the new government in Meghalaya as the BJP helped to setup another government in the North East. Read: Who is Conrad Sangma? Council of Ministers being sworn-in at oath ceremony in Meghalaya's Shillong pic.twitter.com/SUWZEQ34cZ — ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018 × Last week Meghalaya polls had thrown up a hung assembly, however, to break the deadlock the BJP along with the United Democratic Party (UDP) extended support to the NPP after it bagged the second largest seats - 19 in all - in the 60 member state assembly. #Meghalaya Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah arrive for oath taking ceremony of Meghalaya CM elect Conrad Sangma & others in Shillong pic.twitter.com/ehx91TcaUT — ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018 × Although the Congress had bagged 21 seats but it wasn't able to cobble together a government as the Opposition was determined to form a "non-Congress" in the state. During the polls, BJP got 2 seats, the United Democratic Party bagged 6 seats, the People's Democratic Front won 4 seats, the Hill State People's Democratic Party got 2 seats, the NCP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement won one seat each and Independents bagged three seats.

NPP leader Conrad Sangma sworn in as Meghalaya chief minister

<p>National People&#39;s Party (NPP) president Conrad Sangma took oath as the 12th chief minister of Meghalaya in Shillong today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli were present at the swearing-in ceremony.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Here are the 12 MLAs who were sworn in as a council of ministers:</strong></p>

<p>Prestone Tynsong, NPP<br />
Sniawbhalang Dhar, NPP<br />
James K Sangma, NPP<br />
Comingone Ymbon, NPP<br />
Metbah Lyngdoh, UDP<br />
Kyrmen Shylla, UDP<br />
Lahkmen Rymbui, UDP<br />
Banteidor Lyngdoh, PDF<br />
Hamletson Dohling, PDF<br />
AL Hek, BJP<br />
Samlin Malngiang, HSPDP</p>

<p>It must be noted that the council of ministers include five first-timers, meaning they have become an MLAs for the first time.</p>

<p>Three ex-Congress leaders &ndash; Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dharm, and Comingone Ymbon, who joined the NPP before the polls have also been rewarded by giving them important portfolios and including them in the council of ministers.</p>


NPP president Conrad Sangma's party members arrived in Shillong today to take oath to form the new government in Meghalaya as the BJP helped to setup another government in the North East

National People's Party (NPP) president Conrad Sangma took oath as the 12th chief minister of Meghalaya in Shillong today. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Here are the 12 MLAs who were sworn in as a council of ministers: Prestone Tynsong, NPP Sniawbhalang Dhar, NPP James K Sangma, NPP Comingone Ymbon, NPP Metbah Lyngdoh, UDP Kyrmen Shylla, UDP Lahkmen Rymbui, UDP Banteidor Lyngdoh, PDF Hamletson Dohling, PDF AL Hek, BJP Samlin Malngiang, HSPDP It must be noted that the council of ministers include five first-timers, meaning they have become an MLAs for the first time. Three ex-Congress leaders – Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dharm, and Comingone Ymbon, who joined the NPP before the polls have also been rewarded by giving them important portfolios and including them in the council of ministers.

Meghalaya: The full list of Conrad Sangma's ministers

Gambian authorities have acknowledged that prominent opposition activist Solo Sandeng died after his arrest in April, Human Rights Watch and the slain campaigner&#39;s lawyer said on Friday.<br />
<br />
UN chief Ban Ki-moon had demanded an investigation into the reported death of Sandeng, a senior figure in the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).<br />
<br />
He was detained after taking part in a rare demonstration calling for the resignation of President Yahya Jammeh.<br />
<br />
His death - which Amnesty International says came after he was tortured - sparked further protests and arrests.<br />
<br />
Human Rights Watch (HRW) told AFP that UDP sources and the party chief&#39;s lawyers confirmed the government had officially acknowledged the death in court.<br />
<br />
A lawyer for Sandeng&#39;s family confirmed the move, adding that it came in an affidavit as they seek to secure the return of his body.<br />
<br />
&quot;Even if he is dead, his body should be produced by the state,&quot; the lawyer said.<br />
<br />
In a copy of the affidavit seen by AFP, intelligence chief Saihou Omar Jeng acknowledges that Sandeng &quot;unfortunately lost his life&quot; during the &quot;process of arrest and detention&quot;.<br />
<br />
&quot;The government has accordingly set in motion an inquiry surrounding his death,&quot; it adds.<br />
<br />
Jim Wormington, West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said this explanation was not good enough.<br />
<br />
&quot;The Gambian government&#39;s recognition that Solo Sandeng died during his arrest and detention is a first step in ensuring accountability for those responsible,&quot; he told AFP.<br />
<br />
&quot;But the government&#39;s explanation of the circumstances of Sandeng&#39;s death have so far been wholly inadequate.&quot;<br />
<br />
Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, rules the Gambia with an iron fist.<br />
<br />
His regime is regularly accused by rights groups of making opponents forcibly disappear.<br />
<br />
Last month he blasted the UN and Amnesty International for demanding an investigation into Sandeng&#39;s death, saying they could &quot;go to hell&quot;.<br />
(AFP)

Sandang's family seek return of his body, Human Rights Watch researcher says government's explanation is not good enough

Gambian authorities have acknowledged that prominent opposition activist Solo Sandeng died after his arrest in April, Human Rights Watch and the slain campaigner's lawyer said on Friday. UN chief Ban Ki-moon had demanded an investigation into the reported death of Sandeng, a senior figure in the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). He was detained after taking part in a rare demonstration calling for the resignation of President Yahya Jammeh. His death - which Amnesty International says came after he was tortured - sparked further protests and arrests. Human Rights Watch (HRW) told AFP that UDP sources and the party chief's lawyers confirmed the government had officially acknowledged the death in court. A lawyer for Sandeng's family confirmed the move, adding that it came in an affidavit as they seek to secure the return of his body. "Even if he is dead, his body should be produced by the state," the lawyer said. In a copy of the affidavit seen by AFP, intelligence chief Saihou Omar Jeng acknowledges that Sandeng "unfortunately lost his life" during the "process of arrest and detention". "The government has accordingly set in motion an inquiry surrounding his death," it adds. Jim Wormington, West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said this explanation was not good enough. "The Gambian government's recognition that Solo Sandeng died during his arrest and detention is a first step in ensuring accountability for those responsible," he told AFP. "But the government's explanation of the circumstances of Sandeng's death have so far been wholly inadequate." Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, rules the Gambia with an iron fist. His regime is regularly accused by rights groups of making opponents forcibly disappear. Last month he blasted the UN and Amnesty International for demanding an investigation into Sandeng's death, saying they could "go to hell". (AFP)

Gambia admits activist Solo Sandeng died in detention