E-Paper
Lapang to be sworn in as Meghalaya CM
Senior Congress leader D D Lapang will be sworn in on Wednesday as chief minister of Meghalaya with the party stitching an alliance with regional outfit UDP following failure of talks with NCP.
Senior Congress leader D D Lapang will be sworn in on Wednesday as chief minister of Meghalaya with the party stitching an alliance with regional outfit UDP following failure of talks with NCP.
Lapang, along with the United Democratic Party leadership, on Tuesday submitted a letter of agreement to Governor R S Mooshahary who invited them to form the government.
"I decided to give them a chance," Mooshahary told reporters. Lapang, who will be the 21st chief minister of the state, has been given 15 days time to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
The Meghalaya United Alliance formed on Tuesday has 37 MLAs -- 26 from Congress, 9 from UDP and two independents. The effective strength of the House has been reduced to 55 from 60 following resignation of one UDP MLA and disqualification of four others.
The swearing-in would be held on Wednesday at 11:30 AM.
The regional party is likely to be given two posts -- that of a deputy chief minister and a cabinet minister.
Congress insiders said "unreasonable demands" by the NCP like five berths and plum portfolios, besides opposition from a large section of the state Congress members prompted the party to align with the UDP.
