MLA disqualification reduces Congress chance in Meghalaya

The disqualification of four rebel MLAs of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance seems to have scuppered Congress' chance of forming government in the state and winning the floor test subsequently.

The disqualification has resulted into a 27-27 tie between NCP-led MPA coalition and Congress in the 60-member Assembly where two MLAs had resigned earlier.

Upsetting Congress' chances, Speaker B M Lanong late last night disqualified four MLAs, who deserted MPA ahead of March 17 trust vote that was survived by the alliance with the casting vote of Speaker.

Deputy Speaker and NCP MLA Sanbor Shullai, the lone MLA of Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Paul Lyngdoh and Independents Limison Sangma and Ismail Marak have incurred disqualification under the 10th Schedule and thereby cease to be members of Meghalaya assembly with immediate effect, Lanong said.

While a Congress spokesman termed Speakers move as 'biased' and 'unconstitutional', the MLAs' lawyer Debojit Saikia said they were in the process of moving Gauhati High Court against the Speaker's decision.

The four were among the five rebel MLAs who had deserted MPA, reducing it to a minority from 32 to 27 members in the 60-member assembly. The MPA, however, survived the trust vote on March 17 with the casting vote of Speaker, who had invalidated the votes of the four rebel MLAs.

One of the rebel MLAs, Hill State Peoples Democratic Partys Advisor Pariong, had gone missing prior to the trust vote, but after "skipping" the trust vote he later returned to the MPA.

Presidents Rule was imposed in the state on March 19 after Governor R S Mooshahary cited a "constitutional breakdown" and the assembly was kept on suspended animation.

The disqualification seems to have come as a blow to Congress, which last week staked claim to form the government, parading 31 MLAs, including the four rebel MLAs, before the governor.

The Governor, "convinced at the Congress claim", reportedly recommended Centre to revoke Presidents Rule. But, now the Congress camp has been lowered to 27 following the disqualification.

The MPA too enjoys the support of 27 MLAs, including the Speaker, with two of the legislators of MPA-constituent United Democratic Party resigning from the party as well as assembly last week protesting "inept party leadership".