Amid day-long high drama, senior Congress leader D D Lapang was on Monday evening sworn in as Chief Minister in Raj Bhavan. Meghalaya Governor S S Sidhu gave Lapang 10 days to prove his majority on the floor of the House. Sidhu, who rejected the claim of the newly-formed NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), said his decision to invite the Congress to form the government was aimed at preventing horse-trading. Stung by the Governor’s decision, the MPA — led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma — decided to move the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the installation of the Congress government in the House.The Congress has 25 legislators in a House with an effective strength of 59. Polling for Baghmara seat will be held on March 22 which was deferred due to the death of the Congress candidate. The party claimed the support of three Independents legislators too. However, it is falling short by three legislators for a simple majority.On the other hand, as fight for the number game between the Congress and the MPA heated up, the latter accused the Congress of “kidnapping three Independent legislators.” Abu Taher Mondal, Ismail R Marak and Limison Sangma — all from Garo Hills — have been “kidnapped” by the Congress, according to NCP Rajya Sabha MP Robert Kharshiing. However, the Congress claimed that the three legislators were supporting the party.Immediately after the swearing in, Lapang told the media that he will prove his majority. Answering a query on how he will cobble up a majority, he shot back: “I do not need to reveal everything to you.”Earlier, the MPA — a coalition of the UDP, NCP, Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), BJP and two Independents — paraded 30 legislators before the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Monday forenoon. Led by Sangma and UDP president and MPA chief minister-in-waiting Donkupar Roy, the alliance submitted a signed letter of support of 31 legislators besides ensuring the physical presence of 30 legislators before the Governor.An upbeat MPA camp even flaunted HSPDP president H S Lyngdoh and KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh whose support have become crucial for the formation of a coalition government. The Congress camp had been trying to entice these leaders in its effort to form a coalition. However, the Congress has so far failed to convince the two regional parties to join its camp. AICC general secretary Margaret Alva, who arrived in Shillong on Sunday along with a battery of Congress leaders, met H S Lyngdoh on Sunday night. But she failed to convince him to join the Congress bandwagon.After meeting the Governor, Roy told the media: “We have proved our majority by physically demonstrating the MPA’s strength and producing a signed letter of support.” Swearing to stand by the MPA, HSPDP president H S Lyngdoh asserted: “We will not desert the camp.” KHNAM president who was Urban Affairs Minister in the outgoing Congress-led coalition ministry, Paul Lyngdoh, echoed the senior Lyngdoh’s commitment to the MPA.Prior to the function, at a press conference the Governor said he had invited the Congress as it was the single largest party and by inviting the Congress, he was adhering to Article 164 of the Constitution. “I also made my own judgment as to which of the two — the Congress or the MPA — would be able to provide a stable government,” he said, adding that he did not invite the MPA as the NCP, UDP, KHNAM, HSPDP and the two Independents did not enter into a pre-poll alliance. “Had they entered into a pre-poll alliance, the combination would have to be invited. But as it was a post poll alliance, the single largest party had to be invited,” he said.
