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Lyngdoh sails through confidence motion

The eight-day-old Congress-United Democratic Party coalition, the Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum government, headed by B B Lyngdoh, won the vote of confidence in the state assembly on Monday.

The Opposition walked out without voting.

Initiating the debate, Hill States People's Democratic Party member Hopingstone Lyngdoh criticised the governor for allowing B B Lyngdoh to form a second ministry with the Congress.

C R Marak of the Garo National Council, Bharatiya Janata Party's A L Hek and T H Rangad, and Independent member P M supported the HSPDP member. After this, the Opposition staged a walk-out to mark its protest against the action.

The UDP's H Scott Lyngdoh and Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang of the Congress supported the motion, justifying the new ministry. They said there was no alternative left for B B Lyngdoh but resign and form a another ministry following the heavy pressure by the former coalition partners for changes in portfolio.

Immediately after passing the motion, Speaker E K Mawlong adjourned the House sine die.

The new government was sworn in on July 27. B B Lyngdoh and his United Parliamentary Forum council of ministers had submitted their resignations earlier in the day.

The UDP-Congress coalition would equally share the post of chief minister for the rest of its tenure. The two have also agreed to formulate a common minimum programme for the state.

In the 60-member House, the Congress has 26 MLAs, including an Independent associate member, Kulert Cherian Momin from Tura constituency. The UDP has 20 members.

The general election in February had seen the Congress winning 25 seats, UDP 20, HSPDP, BJP and PDP three each, Garo National one and Independents five.

Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills district magistrate has imposed prohibitory orders within a 200-metre radius of the assembly premises, apprehending trouble.

UNI

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