Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister and the national leader of the National People's Party (NPP) Conrad Sangma has won the South Tura assembly seat again by defeating his closest opponent, Bernard Marak from the BJP.

However, the Returning Officer of the South Tura assembly seat is yet to declare the results, but Conrad is leading by a margin of 2,830 votes.

Conrad secured 10,090 votes, while Bernard managed to poll only 7,260 in a five-cornered contest.

The ruling NPP has so far won seven seats with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong Tourism minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, former Power Minister Comingone Ymbon, former Urban Affairs minister Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh retaining their assembly seats

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday thanked the people of the state for voting for the NPP.

“I thank the people of the state for voting for our party. We are very thankful to them. We are short by a few numbers of course and we will wait for the final result to come out and then we will decide how to go,” he told reporters at Tura in the West Garo Hills district.

As the National People's Party (NPP) is emerging as the biggest party in the state, its key leaders have begun discussions to establish a new coalition government.

When asked about forging an alliance with partners in the outgoing Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government — the BJP, United Democratic Party, the People’s Democratic Front, and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party — Sangma said, “I could not even meet my people. Let me meet them and then we will decide. Let us see.”

(With UNI inputs)