Dr Pariong, who quit his cabinet post in the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance coalition government, has gone missing from March 11 night.
”Dr Pariong has been kidnapped by the Assam Health Minister. My people had contacted Dr Pariong on Thursday night and he informed them that he was in Assam,” Mr Lyngdoh, the HSPDP supremo said yesterday.
The Meghalaya Health Minister went missing after he suddenly submitted his resignation letter to Chief Minister Donkupar Roy.
”The developments that have taken place in the last few days have compelled me to take this decision keeping in mind the interest of the state in general and my people in particular,” Dr Pariong stated.
The MPA government is trying to locate the HSPDP legislator in view of the ongoing political crisis caused by the defection of two Independent legislators — Limison D Sangma and Ismail R Marak — and Urban Affairs Minister and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) president Paul Lyngdoh, to the Congress fold.
Dr Pariong’s unexplained disappearance has further compounded the problem which continued to be piling on the Chief Minister.
In view of the ongoing attempt of the Congress to oust the MPA government from power, the MPA is in dire need of the HSPDP legislator to continue being part of the coalition, especially ahead of the trust vote due on March 17.
The HSPDP has two legislators in the 60-member House and is an important ally of the NCP-United Democratic Party-led MPA coalition.
Meanwhile, the HSPDP dismissed media reports that the party had filed an FIR on the disappearance of Dr Pariong due to the political crisis in the state.
”No FIR has been filed in this matter by HSPDP president HS Lyngdoh or any party MLA. The party also didn’t lodge any complaint with the speaker of the state Legislative Assembly against Dr Pariong,” HSPDP general secretary T Lyngdoh said.