Congress-NCP govt in Meghalaya likely

Efforts are on to form a Congress-NCP government in Meghalaya, which is currently under President's Rule.NCP leader P A Sangma met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here last night and discussed the prevailing political situation in the state, in an attempt to pave the way for formation of a Congress-NCP government.     

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party and former Chief Minister D D Lapang, who is camping in the national capital, also had a meeting with some Congress MLAs.     

"We are now in a position to form a government in Meghalaya. The Congress High Command will take a final decision on it," Lapang told PTI. Sources said the Centre may revoke President's Rule to enable a Congress-NCP government later this week.     

Meghalaya was placed under President's Rule on March 19 after the then NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government survived a trust vote on the floor of the state assembly through a controversial decision by the Speaker.     

Speaker B M Lanong cast his vote when there was a 27:27 tie in the 60-member House during division.NCP has 14 MLAs while Congress has 26 MLAs in a House of 60.   

The tie-breaker came after the Speaker declared invalid the votes cast by four of the five members he suspended hours before the trial of strength on March 17. The action brought down the Congress tally, which had gone up to 31, to 27.     

The Donkupar Roy-led coalition government was reduced to a minority on March 9 following withdrawal of support to the MPA by two independent MLAs Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak. The crisis was heightened on March 11 when the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Paul Lyngdoh, who is also Urban Affairs Minister, pulled out.   

   The tie-breaker came after the Speaker declared invalid the votes cast by four of the five members he suspended hours before the trial of strength on March 17. The action brought down the Congress tally, which had gone up to 31, to 27. The Donkupar Roy-led coalition government was reduced to a minority on March 9 following withdrawal of support to the MPA by two independent MLAs Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak.   

   The crisis was heightened on March 11 when the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Paul Lyngdoh, who is also Urban Affairs Minister, pulled out. On March 12, Health minister and Hill State People's Democratic Party MLA Advisor Pariong also resigned. In the event of the new alliance taking charge, some of the MLAs who triggered the crisis might be taken into the Cabinet, sources said. But regional parties like UDP, HSPDP and some Independents would be out of the coalition, they said, adding both Congress and NCP would share the ministry.    

 

On March 12, Health minister and Hill State People's Democratic Party MLA Advisor Pariong also resigned.In the event of the new alliance taking charge, some of the MLAs who triggered the crisis might be taken into the Cabinet, sources said. But regional parties like UDP, HSPDP and some Independents would be out of the coalition, they said, adding both Congress and NCP would share the ministry.