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Meghalaya govt survives floor test
Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government on Tuesday survived the confidence vote with Speaker B M Lanong casting vote in favour of Donkupar Roy ministry.
Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government on Tuesday survived the confidence vote with Speaker B M Lanong casting vote in favour of Donkupar Roy ministry.
The beleaguered MPA was struggling with a week-long political crisis in the state.
Hours before the floor test, the Meghalaya Speaker placed under interim suspension the five MLAs, who had deserted the ruling MPA coalition.
The five MLAs have been placed under interim suspension as members of the Meghalaya assembly until final orders are issued after hearing them, Speaker B M Lanong said.
Show-causes were served to all the five based on complaints either from their parties or from the MPA for violating the party or the coalition whips.
The five deserters of the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government had on Monday failed to turn up on the inaugural day of the budget session of the Assembly sending worrying signals within the government.
The MPA had lost its majority after two Independents Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak - and the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Paul Lyngdoh, who is also the urban affairs minister, pulled out on March 9.
That was followed by the resignation of Health Minister and HSPDP MLA Advisor Pariong from the Donkupar Roy ministry on March 11. The strength of the MPA was 28 and the Opposition Congress 27.
