MPA loses majority in Meghalaya, CM holds coalition meet

Shillong, Mar 11 (PTI) The NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive
Alliance (MPA) government in India's north-eastern state of
Meghalaya Wednesday lost majority following resignation of the
lone Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) MLA,
a day after two independents withdrew their support to the
one-year-old ministry.

KHNAM Member of Legislative Assembly and Urban Affairs
Minister Paul Lyngdoh tendered his resignation to Chief
Minister Donkupar Roy early Wednesday, reducing the ruling
coalition strength to 30 in the 60-member house amid
indications that more MLAs could shift allegiance.

In his letter to the Chief Minister, Lyngdoh blamed
veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Purno A Sangma
of violating the spirit of the decision taken by all MPA
partners in the meeting held on Monday by trying to forge an
alliance with the Congress in the state.

"Neither the UDP nor the NCP will go with the Congress.
We are all with MPA," Roy told reporters before attending a
meeting of MPA partners which began here. On the government
being reduced to a minority, the Chief Minister said, "We'll
see."

Sangma, the architect of the MPA, is camping in New Delhi
and sources in NCP said he was in touch with top All India
Congress Committee (AICC) leaders to explore alternative
possibilities for formation of a Congress-NCP coalition
government.

Two Independent MLAs, one of whom joined the ruling
coalition two weeks back, had withdrawn support to the MPA on
Monday. The two independents are now in the Congress camp.

The 12-month old five-party ruling MPA now has 30 seats
NCP 15, UDP 10, Hill State Peoples Democratic Party 2, BJP 1
and two independents.

The Congress is, however, the single largest party
with 26 MLAs.

After the March 2008 Assembly elections, D D Lapang was
sworn-in as the Chief Minister of a Congress-led coalition
government although he resigned 10 days later ahead of a
scheduled trust vote, having failed to muster majority
support.

Meghalaya had been witness to political instability for
long having 18 governments in the last 35 years with power
equations changing frequently between Congress and regional
parties.

There were just two occasions when a Chief Minister was
able to complete his five-year term since Meghalaya attained
statehood in 1972. PTI RTJ
DEP
NNNN