Lyngdoh new Meghalaya CM, Marak bows out

Both Lyngdoh and senior leaders of the United Democratic Party (UDP), a major constituent of the UPF, were tightlipped on thesize of the ministry and ducked answering this query from persistent reporters. One of the UDP leader, however, admitted that their first concern would be to accommodate members who are supporting them.

Earlier in the day, Marak announced his resignation in the Assembly soon after the election of Speaker, in which the Congress nominee was defeated, and declared that he did not have the required majority and hence his Parliamentary Affair Minister J D Rymbai was not moving the motion of confidence on the floor of the Assembly during the trial of strength. Newly elected Speaker E K Mawlong thereafter declared that the Congress-led coalition government of Marak had lost the motion of confidence amidst thumping of desk by members of the UPF. Preceding the trial of strength was the election of the Assembly Speaker, wherein UPF candidate E K Mawlong coasted to a nail-biting victory securing 30 against the 29 votes polled by his rival Congress nominee Surjit Sangma in a 60-member House. One vote wasinvalid.

Immediately after the result of the Speaker’s election was declared, an air of suspense and tension hung inside the Assembly. With the Congress nominee getting the expected number of 29 votes that include three PDM legislators, the suspense was over the one invalid vote. Though many felt the invalid vote might be from UPF camp, the picture would have been entirely different if it was from the Congress camp.

This was an indication of a close contest between the Congress-led coalition government and the UPF during the trial of strength that was to be followed immediately after. But that was not to be, as Marak conceded defeat without going for the trial of strength after the newly elected Speaker Mawlong refused to adjourn the House for half-an-hour before it was taken up.

After Mawlong declared that the Marak ministry had lost the confidence motion, jubilant UPF legislators huddled in the ruling party room in the Assembly and elected B B Lyngdoh as the leader of its parliamentaryparty.