Lapang Govt to face trust vote today, pro tem Speaker to preside

Even as the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance and the NCP-UDP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance...

Even as the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) and the NCP-UDP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) are all set for a showdown for Wednesday’s trial of strength, for the first time in the political history of the state, the trust of vote for a government will be held under a pro tem Speaker. The Speaker’s election, slated for March 18 — which would have been a clear indicator of the strength of Lapang Government on the floor of the House — was postponed by MUA, drawing flak from rival MPA.

Many believe there’s a political ploy behind the Congress’ choice of having the trust vote prior to the Speaker’s election. In fact, Lapang has still not managed to increase the MUA strength from 28 legislators. Lapang said he will decide on whether to face the trial of strength or resign on Wednesday morning before the commencement of the Assembly at 10 am. Talking to the media after the Congress Legislature Party meeting at his residence on Tuesday night, Lapang said: “As all the MUA legislators are not present here, a decision on whether to face the trust vote or not will be taken on Wednesday morning.” Lapang, however, was non-committal when asked if his resignation was most likely. “How can I say about a decision that is to be taken on Wednesday,” he said.

The Congress with 25 legislators had formed the MUA with three Independent legislators from Garo Hills. Sources in the party said the CM might have to quit before the floor test. Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma has already asked Lapang to resign gracefully. Sangma told The Indian Express on Tuesday: “I do not know the logic behind having the trust vote prior to the Speaker’s election. But it will not make any difference.”

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However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior Congress legislator Roytre Chirstopher Laloo has not given up hope. “We are confident of winning the trust vote,” he said.

Interestingly, H S Lyngdoh, president of Hills State People’s Democratic Party and the MPA’s choice for the deputy CM, is the pro tem Speaker. Senior Independent legislator and The Shillong Times editor Manas Choudhuri said, “This is for the first time, perhaps in the entire country, that the trust motion is being held before the Speaker’s election.”

The Congress has been trying to influence H S Lyngdoh to join the MUA, but has failed so far. MPA chairman and UDP president Donkupar Roy, who is gearing up to take over the Government once Lapang is voted out, on Monday, said the Congress had approached the UDP, “but I told Lapang that we have already inked an agreement to work with the MPA”.

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