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Journalism of Courage
Nine days after he was sworn in as Chief Minister, D D Lapang resigned on Wednesday just an hour before his trial of strength. In the evening, Donkupar Roy of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) was sworn in CM along with six ministers.
Out of the six, four ministers are first timers. Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma’s son Conrad Sangma was also included in the ministry. After the swearing-in, Sangma said: “I am happy as a father that my son has been chosen as one of the ministers.”
On his part, Conrad said: “I will try and emulate my father and fulfil his expectation of becoming an able, efficient, honest and God-fearing minister.”
The Shillong Times editor and Independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri has also found a berth in the Roy ministry. Chaudhuri is tipped to get the Information and Public Relation Ministry. Besides Sangma and Chaudhuri, HSPDP legislator A Pariong and Independent legislator Donbok Massar are the other two first-time ministers.
In the morning, Lapang drove straight to the Raj Bhavan after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at his residence and submitted his resignation to Governor S S Sidhu. His resignation brought to an end the political uncertainty that had shrouded Meghalaya since the election results were announced on March 7.
Talking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Lapang said: “The Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) could not muster enough support and the CLP meeting this morning felt I should resign.”
Lapang, however, said the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) was a “bundle of contradictions and will not last three months”.
The MPA consists the NCP, UDP, the Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and two Independent legislators.
The Congress with 25 legislators had emerged as the single largest party after the recent Assembly polls. With three Independent legislators in its kitty, the Congress forged the MUA and formed the Government. But it still fell short of two legislators in a 60-member House.
Having submitted his resignation, Lapang and his ministers stayed away from the House. Inside the House, the MPA legislators were all gearing up to defeat Lapang during the trust vote.
But as pro tem Speaker H S Lyngdoh announced in the House that Lapang had tendered his resignation, the MPA greeted the news with applause. Reading out Lapang’s resignation, he said: “As the Chief Minister has resigned, the House does not have any more business and stands adjourned till tomorrow.”
Later, MPA’s chief minister nominee Roy met the Governor and was handed over the letter appointing him to lead the new government. An upbeat MPA soon huddled up in the Speaker’s Chamber as its candidate Bindo M Lanong filed his nomination papers for the Speaker’s election slated for Thursday. The Congress has decided not contest for the Speaker’s post. The MUA had earlier nominated legislator Charles Pyngrope as its candidate.
NCP leader Purno A Sangma said the MPA Government would try to “fulfil all the aspirations of the people”. Reacting to Lapang’s prediction that the MPA Government would not last even three months, Sangma said: “Lapang will have to wait for five years. I am not surprised by what he said, as it is in the Congress culture to topple non-Congress governments.”
