Amid the deepening political crisis in Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Minister Advisor Pariong on Thursday resigned from the government led by Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA).
However, Chief Minister Donkupar Roy said Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) MLA and minister Pariong resigned only from the cabinet and not from the MPA coalition.
While Pariong could not be contacted, Roy said the minister did not specify any reason for his resignation.
Pariong was also in-charge of Horticulture, Reorganisation and Election in state government.
HSPDP has two MLAs in the MPA coalition and the party president H S Lyngdoh is Deputy Chief Minister (in-charge of Home).
Meghalaya was plunged into political uncertainty as the NCP led-Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) lost majority after withdrawal of support by a senior minister.
Urban Affairs Minister and the lone KHNAM MLA Paul Lyngdoh and two independents, Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak, pulled out from the MPA coalition in the last three days, reducing MPA's strength to 30 in the 60-member assembly.