Meghalaya, the nadir of political instability, saw a new coalition government being sworn in on Wednesday, ending almost two months of President’s Rule.
But more than a victory for the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA), it was an embarrassing loss for former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The MUA has a total strength of 37 MLAs in the 60-member House. This includes 26 of the Congress, nine of the UDP and two Independents.
“Sangma stabbed us in the back,” said a senior MPA legislator after a decision was taken to lift President’s Rule in Meghalaya amid reports of a power-sharing deal between the Congress and NCP. If the UDP wanted to “get even” with the NCP, it did not reveal its cards until the last minute.
Sangma said he did not expect “this sort of behavior from the Congress”. But he asserted he had no grudge against the UDP, wishing its new coalition success.