Meghalaya party petitions speaker on defection

"We have lodged a complaint under the 10th schedule of the constitution with the assembly speaker against Adviser Pariong who defected to the Congress," HSPDP chief Hoping Stone Lyngdoh said.

Adviser, who won the 2003 assembly elections from Pariong constituency, is now contesting from Nongstoin constituency against Lyngdoh on a Congress ticket.

Two independent legislators, Abu Taher Mondal and Limison D. Sangma, resigned from the assembly Monday after the Congress announced their candidature to contest the Feb 23 assembly elections.

Mondal, who is also the power minister, is is seeking a mandate from Phulbari constituency, while Sangma is contesting from Raksamgre constituency.