If Pariong’s suspension is revoked the MPA strength will go up to 28 legislators against 27 from the Congess led MUA, nipping the Congress aspiration to form the next Government.
Just before the trust vote on March 17, Pariong had resigned from the Cabinet without informing his party president and Deputy Chief Minister Hopinstone Lyngdoh. After his resignation, Pariong went underground and efforts to trace him by his party failed. He reportedly cross over to the Opposition Congress camp and remained absent during the March 17 confidence motion.
As the HSPDP had filed a complaint against him, Speaker Lanong had suspended him and four others- former Urban Affairs Minister and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) president Paul Lyngdoh, NCP legislator and Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai and Independent legislators Limison D Sangma and Ismail R Marak- just ahead of the confidence motion.
With the suspension of the five legislators, MPA Government survived as Lanong had to cast his deciding vote to break a tie of 27 votes each of the MPA and MUA. However, despite winning the confidence motion, the union Government imposed President Rule putting the Assembly under animated suspension after Governor R S Mooshahary reported of the breakdown of constitutional machinery.
Even as two suspended legislators-Paul Lyngdoh and Limison Sangma- got a stay order against their suspension from the Shillong bench of Guahati High Court on Friday, Pariong wrote to Speaker requesting him to vacate the suspension against him as he had not left the party but only resigned from the ministry.
Lanong told The Indian Express that he will go strictly according to the provision of the law. He, however, said : “ If his party withdraws the complaint against him, I will certainly revoke his suspension according to the provision of the 10 th schedule of the constitution.” Yesterday, he had said that he will not accept the High Court order to stay the suspension of the two legislators.
If Lanong revokes Pariong’s suspension, the MPA strength will go up 29 legislators-including the Speaker- against 27 Congress led MUA. Even as the MPA camp is jubiliant with Pariong’s obvious return to the MPA camp, the Congress hope of forming the next Government has taken a jolt.