Lapang wins trust vote in Meghalaya

Shillong May 25, 2009, 14:03 IST

Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang heading the Congress-led coalition United Meghalaya Alliance today won the trust vote on the floor of the assembly.     

Lapang, having support of 43 MLAs in the 60-member house, won the motion through voice vote.     

The proceedings were presided over by Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai.     

Lapang was sworn in as Chief Minister for the fifth time on May 13.

Governor R S Mooshahary had asked him to take the trust vote within 15 days.     

After the trust motion, Congress legislator and former minister Charles Pyngrope was elected Speaker unopposed.

READ MORE - Lapang wins trust vote in Meghalaya

Lapang to face trial of strength today

SHILLONG: The Congress-led coalition of regional parties and Independents headed by chief minister D D Lapang will face the trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly on Monday.

According to the schedule prepared by the Business Advisory Committee of the House, only a day-long sitting of the Assembly would be held to facilitate the trial of strength as well as the election of the Speaker.

Lapang was sworn in chief minister for the fifth time on May 13 after Congress tied up with United Democratic Party (UDP), two months after the year-old NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) collapsed following withdrawal of support from two Independents, the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and an NCP legislator.

The MPA was formed by NCP leader P A Sangma soon after the Assembly elections in March last year cobbling up the smaller parties to keep Congress away from power.

After the MPA collapsed, NCP, with 14 seats in the 60-member Assembly, and Congress, the single largest party with 26 seats, held negotiations to forge an alliance in the state. This, however, failed to materialize.

UDP, with nine seats in its kitty, was quick to extend its support to Congress, prompting Governor R S Mooshahary to invite the latter to form the government after two months of Presidents Rule. Lapang, heading the coalition, was given 15 days to prove the majority.

Two MLAs from Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), four Independents and the lone KHNAM MLA all of whom were part of the MPA have also offered support to the Congress-led coalition taking its strength to 43 (Congress 26, Independents 5, UDP 9, HSPDP 2 and KHNAM 1).

Meanwhile, the trial of strength is likely to be presided over by deputy speaker Sanbor Shullai, an NCP MLA who deserted MPA and pledged support to Congress going against his party's whip. The election of the Speaker will also be held on Monday , Congress sources said.

The Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance has fielded senior Congress leader and former minister Charles Pyngrope as its candidate while the Opposition NCP has fielded John M Marak as its nominee.

READ MORE - Lapang to face trial of strength today

Lapang's trial of strength tomorrow

Shillong, May 24 : Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang, heading a Congress-led coalition of regional parties and Independents, will face the trial of strength on the floor of the assembly tomorrow.

The Business Advisory Committee of the assembly has decided to hold a day-long sitting of the assembly to facilitate the trial of strength as well as the Speaker's election.

Lapang was sworn in as the chief minister for the fifth time on May 13 after Congress tied up with United Democratic Party, two months after the year-old NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) collapsed following the withdrawal of support from two Independents, the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and an NCP legislator.

Lapang, heading the coalition, was given 15 days time to prove his majority by Governor R S Mooshahary after two months of President's Rule.

Two MLAs from HSPDP, Independents and the lone Khnam MLA, all of whom were part of the MPA, also have offered support to the Congress-led coalition taking its strength to 43 (Congress 26, Independents 5, UDP 9, HSPDP 2 and KHNAM 1) in the 60-member house.

READ MORE - Lapang's trial of strength tomorrow

Charles Pyngrope set to be Meghalaya Speaker

SHILLONG: Congress legislator and former minister Charles Pyngrope is set to be elected as the Speaker of the Meghalaya legislative assembly.

The Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA), which met last night, announced Pyngrope as the consensus candidate of the ruling alliance which has 43 MLAs in the 60-member house.

MUA secretary and government chief whip Ronnie V Lyngdoh said all constituent partners of alliance unanimously endorsed Pyngrope as the candidate.

Pyngrope has filed his papers for the election slated for Monday.

The Opposition has fielded NCP legislator John Manner Marak.

READ MORE - Charles Pyngrope set to be Meghalaya Speaker

Lapang ‘rehabilitates’ leaders

Donkupar and other MLAs accommodated in Planning Board

D.D. Lapang Shillong, May 22 : The Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government has begun accommodating politicians, former MLAs and sitting legislators to various boards and corporations with the approval of Governor R.S. Mooshahary. According to the recent notification, former chief minister and UDP legislator Donkupar Roy will be the chairman of State Planning Board with the rank of chief minister, UDP legislator Metbah Lyngdoh, and Congress legislator Augustine Marak were appointed co-chairmen of the State Planning Board. Former MLAs S.C. Marak from the Congress and S.D. Khongwir from the UDP were also appointed co-chairmen of the State Planning Board. The rank and the status of the co-chairman are that of a cabinet minister. The government is contemplating the appointment of defeated politicians and businessmen as members of the board. The MUA government also appointed former chief minister and UDP legislature party leader J.D. Rymbai as the chairman of the Meghalaya Economic Development Council on a par with the rank of the chief minister. Congress legislator Founder Cajee was appointed the vice-chairman of the board with the status of a cabinet minister. Senior Congress MLA and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Friday Lyngdoh was appointed political adviser to the chief minister, with the rank of a deputy chief minister. After the HSPDP had extended support to the MUA government, party president H.S. Lyngdoh was appointed the chairman of State Development Reforms Commission with a cabinet minister’s rank, and legislator Advisor Pariong was appointed parliamentary secretary. Earlier, 13 parliamentary secretaries were appointed by chief minister D.D. Lapang. There was criticism in the past from various quarters over the political appointments as it had brought an additional burden on the state exchequer. The boards and corporations are also seen as the rehabilitation centres of MLAs who cannot be accommodated in the ministry. Lapang, however, played down the appointment of chairman, co-chairman and others by saying that to develop the state, “We need additional services.” Speaking to reporters this evening, Lapang said the needs of the state were unlimited and to meet the needs, the services of experienced persons were required. “There is no harm in getting additional manpower and even the Opposition members can also be given the responsibilities,” Lapang said. He added that if the appointees failed to fulfil the duties assigned to them, they would be replaced. However, the chief minister said he would try to minimise the political appointments.

READ MORE - Lapang ‘rehabilitates’ leaders

Common issues dog new & old govts Mining, power haunt Lapang

(Top) D.D. Lapang being sworn in as chief minister by Governor R.S. Mooshahary at Raj Bhavan in Shillong last week. Bindo Lanong and Paul Lyngdoh(Below) take oath during the ceremony. File pictures

Shillong, May 21 : Two contentious issues — power deal and uranium mining — will continue to haunt the new Congress-led MUA coalition government where the UDP and KHNAM are constituents.

In 2007, when D.D. Lapang was chief minister with the same combination of the UDP, KHNAM and others, he had to keep in abeyance the power deal with private companies and even went slow on mining.

Before the Assembly elections held last year, the regional parties, the UDP and KHNAM, which are opposing both mining and the power deal, had even included these issues in their election manifestos saying both were against the interests of the parties as well as the state.

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, Lapang indicated that the Congress would like to go ahead with the power deal. He also blamed the previous Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government for not being able to decide anything on the issue with private companies.

The previous government had entrusted an official-level committee to look into the merits and demerits of the power deal. After getting the report, the MPA government had okayed two projects which are below 100MW, and decided to scrap other three major projects as they did not follow international competitive bidding.

As far as mining was concerned, the former MPA government had also constituted a committee to examine the matter. While the Congress was not averse to the idea of going ahead with mining, the regional parties, which include the UDP and KHNAM, would not agree to this as they had so often opposed these two projects.

When contacted, the UDP leaders said since they had assumed office only a few days back, it was too early to discuss these issues. “It is too early to comment on these issues as it needs further analysis,” deputy chief minister, the UDP’s Bindo Lanong, said.

UDP Legislature Party leader J.D. Rymbai echoed his views. Now with the Congress having the maximum of 26 legislators on its side to support the party, the indications are that the government may re-examine the power deal with private companies and also go ahead with the mining project.

READ MORE - Common issues dog new & old govts Mining, power haunt Lapang

Removed DGP lists contribution

Krishnan kept in the dark

Kulbir Krishnan Shillong, May 20 : Ousted Meghalaya director-general of police Kulbir Krishan today listed his achievements, as a controversy raged about the appointment of the new police chief Anil Pradhan. It was only last evening that Krishan got a call from Pradhan that he would take charge as the new DGP. Krishan was not even aware of the appointment. Today, Krishan did not want to rake up the issue of his sudden removal, but explained to the media what he had done to improve the police administration in the state. After Krishan took over as DGP, his team maintained law and order during the crucial period after the imposition of President’s rule. He said Meghalaya got the new India Reserve Battalion during his tenure and because of this, at least 1,000 youths will get jobs. Krishan said under the police modernisation scheme, in addition to the Rs 9.5 crore, he could also get Rs 4.5 crore more sanctioned for the police department, with which more weapons, vehicles can be bought. Moreover, the money can also be used to strengthen the special branch of the police department. Deployment of 100 more personnel in the understaffed traffic branch department was another achievement. Within a span of three months, 350 officers were promoted and 11 inspectors were promoted to the rank of deputy superintendent of police. Krishan, who was holding the charge of additional director-general of police (CID) before his appointment as the director-general of police will be appointed additional director-general of prisons and not as director-general of prisons. He had to step down as his appointment as director-general was on a temporary basis. According to the new order, Pradhan will be the additional director-general of police, holding charge as the DGP. But he will enjoy the salary, perks and other allowances as that of the DGP. The rank and file of Meghalaya police have expressed surprise over the sudden removal of Krishan which, according to them, is political interference. While Krishan is a 1976 batch of IPS officer, Pradhan is from the 1977 batch, which indicates that the government has bypassed the seniority factor. Chief minister D.D. Lapang, who is in charge of home, said if there are any differences, anyone can write to him. He also downplayed the issue of political interference saying the new appointment was for better results.

READ MORE - Removed DGP lists contribution

Cylinders at residents’ doorsteps

Shillong, May 19 : The East Khasi Hills administration will introduce home delivery of LPG cylinders for the first time in Shillong from June 1.

East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner B. Dhar told a news conference today that after the three rounds of meetings with the seven gas agencies in Shillong today, it was decided that cylinders would be delivered at peoples’ doorsteps.

The authorised agencies will engage labourers to carry the cylinders to various localities in Shillong.

A single agency will be responsible for delivering cylinders to a particular locality. The price of per cylinder for home delivery is Rs 344, which includes delivery charges.

At present Shillong has 50,700 gas connections.

The delivery will be made on all days except Sundays and holidays.

With the home delivery system, the consumers, especially women, can save time as earlier they had to stand in queue whenever the trucks carrying cylinders came to the respective localities. “The main purpose of home delivery is to check the use of double cards by some consumers and also to check black marketing,” Dhar said.

According to Dhar, once the home delivery system starts, the district administration will be able to delete the names of those who possess double cards and also check those who get the gas cylinders through black market without any valid cards.

Stating that there is no shortage of gas cylinders in Shillong, the deputy commissioner also urged the headmen of various localities to co-operate with the district administration and also with the gas agencies to identify the real consumers in their localities.

READ MORE - Cylinders at residents’ doorsteps

Meghalaya Police seek headmen help

Shillong, May 19 : Meghalaya police have sought the help of headmen of various localities in the city to furnish the antecedents of new residents.

The move comes in the wake of the arrest of the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front chief Pongbi Dilli from here on May 14. Dilli had come here to meet some friends.

A senior police official today said though in the past, the police had repeatedly appealed to the headmen of several localities here to verify the details of the people, including students, who stay in rented houses, so far there has been no favourable action from the headmen.

The official said in the past, the police had caught some militants who had taken admissions in some of the colleges here.

The official cited the case of the general secretary of the HNLC, Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew, who had resided in a locality in Shillong a few years back in a clandestine manner, without the knowledge of the police.

“Shillong with its floating population is an ideal place for militants to carry on with their clandestine operations and unless the headmen and others co-operate, we may find it difficult to track their activities,” city SP Claudia Lyngwa said.

The police said criminals could get fake residential certificates from the places where they come and the responsibility lies on the headmen to check their antecedents and inform the police.

According to the police, there is an urgent need on the part of headmen and other organisations here to alert them on the movement of suspicious persons.

The police in the past had carried out the drill of seeking names of the people who are not permanent residents of the city. But as it was a cumbersome process, the drill could not be sustained.

READ MORE - Meghalaya Police seek headmen help

Agatha retains Tura Lok Sabha seat

 TURA, May 17 – It was a close call for the youngest parliamentaran and sitting NCP MP Agatha K Sangma for the Tura Lok Sabha seat which she retained with a small margin of just 17,945 votes defeating her nearest opponent Deborah C Marak of the Congress and two other candidates. For the Congress the results were both surprising and shocking - victory was so near yet so far!

The dramatic downslide for the NCP was in the words of a party worker “terrifying”. When Agatha first contested the Tura seat in a by-poll, last year, she had trounced former PWD Minister Zenith Sangma by a huge margin of 98,000 votes. At that time, the entire Congress war machine was on the election campaign led by former Deputy Chief Minister and elder brother of Zenith, Dr Mukul Sangma.

In this election, the NCP appeared to have been over-confident and under-estimated their opponent, Deborah Marak, a one-time Deputy Chief Minister who had been defeated from her Assembly seat just one year back.

Out of the 24 Assembly seats in Garo Hills that make up the Tura parliamentary constituency, Agatha Sangma won in 16 constituencies while Deborah Marak won the remaining eight Assembly segments.

Agatha polled 1,54,462 votes while Deborah Marak obtained 1,36,523 votes. The ANC (D) candidate Boston Marak secured 39,664 votes while Independent Arlene N Sangma received 10,976 votes.

The sitting MP won in Kharkutta, Resubelpara, Bajengdoba, Songsak, Rongjeng, Williamnagar, Raksamgre, Selsella, Dadenggre, North and South Tura, Rangsakona, Gambegre, Dalu, Rongram and Chokpot.

Congress candidate Deborah Marak won in Mendipather, Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Rajabala, Ampati, Mahendraganj, Salmanpara and Baghmara.

The indication of a close fight was apparant from the beginning of the counting process as both contenders remained neck and neck in the contest.

The highest votes to be obtained by any of the four candidates went to Congresss Deborah C Marak in Rajabala where she secured 10,474 votes against Agatha’s 4,721 votes.

Even in the NCP bastion of Baghmara it was a neck and neck fight with Deborah securing 6,354 votes against Agatha’s 6,000 votes.

As the results began to trickle in it was the NCP that was left more stunned than the Congress. The NCP had expected a victory margin of over a lakh votes but the low percentage on polling day forced them to reassess their predictions. Even then, none from the party had any idea about the results that would unfold on May 16.

The outcome of the elections was also a huge surprise for the Congress which had not expected to better their performance from last year’s by-poll. But a vigorous campaign by Deborah appears to have dramatically sliced the victory margin.

READ MORE - Agatha retains Tura Lok Sabha seat

Custodial death: 3 cops suspended, police personnel transferred en masse by Meghalaya govt

SHILLONG: Meghalaya government has suspended three police personnel and transferred entire staff of a police outpost in the district over an alleged custodial death of a youth, official sources said on Friday.

Director general of police, Kulbir Krishnan ordered the suspension after receiving the departmental report placed by the IGP, (Law and Order), B L Buam on Wednesday.

The three suspended personnel, officer-in-charge of Mawryngkneng police outpost, head constable and a constable, would be booked under Section 304 of the IPC for the custodial death of 17-year-old Sngewlem Kharsati earlier this week, the sources said.

Kharsati's family alleges that he died after being brutally beaten in police custody.

Police had, however, denied the allegations and claimed that Kharsati succumbed to his injuries after some drivers beat him up when he was trying to extort money from trucks plying on the Shillong-Jowai National Highway on May 9.

The matter is being probed by the CID. The district administration has also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

READ MORE - Custodial death: 3 cops suspended, police personnel transferred en masse by Meghalaya govt

D D Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya CM

Shillong, May 15 -  Senior Congress leader Donwa Dethwelson Lapang was sworn-in as the chief minister of Meghalaya where President’s rule was to be lifted on Friday. Governor R S Mooshahary administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lapang at a programme in Raj Bhavan.

Lapang heads an alliance, Meghalaya United Alliance, comprising Congress and a regional party, United Democratic Party (UDP).

The alliance has 37 MLAs — 26 from the Congress, nine from UDP and two Independents — in the 60-member house which now has an effective strength of 55 following resignation of one UDP MLA and disqualification of four others.

Meghalaya was under President’s rule since March 18 after the governor reported that there was a ‘breakdown of constitutional machinery’.

Besides Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma (Congress) and five other ministers — R C Laloo, M M Dangoo, Ampareen Lyngdoh (all Congress), J A Lyngdoh (UDP) and A T Mondol (Ind) — were also sworn-in.

Ampareen Lyndog, who joined the Congress from UDP last month, is not a member of the house now and has to be elected within six months.

READ MORE - D D Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya CM

D D Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya CM

SHILLONG: Senior Congress leader Donwa Dethwelson Lapang was today sworn-in as the chief minister of Meghalaya, for the fifth time, along with six ministers. Governor R S Mooshahary administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lapang.

Lapang, who is heading a new alliance, Meghalaya United Alliance, comprising Congress and regional party, United Democratic Party (UDP), has been given 15 days to prove his majority in the House.

The alliance has 37 MLAs -- 26 from the Congress, nine from UDP and two Independents -- in the 60-member house, which now has an effective strength of 55 following resignation of one UDP MLA and disqualification of four others by the speaker recently.

Congress MLA Mukul Sangma was sworn in as Lapang's deputy, while two other MLAs from the Congress R C Laoo and M M Dangoo also found a berth.

Among the other ministers sworn in were Independent MLA A T Mondol, UDP MLA J A Lyngdoh and Ampareen Lyngdoh, who returned to the Congress after quitting the UDP from the Assembly last month. Lyngdoh will have to get elected within six months.

UDP leader and Speaker B M Lanong will also be inducted as one of the deputy chief ministers. "Once he relinquishes the office of the Speaker, he would be sworn in," Lapang said, adding that the cabinet would be expanded gradually.

READ MORE - D D Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya CM

HC stays disqualification of four Meghalaya MLAs

SHILLONG: When D D Lapang took the Chief Minister's oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Governor R S Mooshahary on Wednesday, he became the head of the 21st government Meghalaya has witnessed in 37 years of statehood.

In last 37 years, the state's chief ministership has rotated between ten political leaders, with only two of them, late Captain W A Sangma and Congress leader S C Marak, being able to complete the full five year term.

Never in the history of Meghalaya, except during the first Assembly elections, has any political party obtained clear majority.

With frequent toppling of governments marking the state's political history, the previous 20 governments saw a musical chair of ten chief ministers some serving the state for as short as 10 days.

Lapang, who has been sworn in for the fifth time on Wednesday, did so from March 10, 2008 to March 19, 2008.

Interestingly, the state has never witnessed a mid-term poll despite the frequent change of governments.

While the toppling game was a hallmark till the early 1990s when the Anti-Defection Law did not exist, the highly fragile political situation in the state could be gauged with the state having witnessed nine governments with varied combinations of political parties during the last decade.

After the March 2008 Assembly elections, Lapang was sworn-in as chief minister of a Congress-led coalition government, but resigned 10 days later, just before a trust vote, after failing to muster a majority.

Subsequently, the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government, comprising five political parties including NCP, headed by United Democratic Party (UDP) president Donkupar Roy assumed charge.

The Congress has not been an untouchable to the varied smaller parties in the state as almost all of them, many of which are defunct now, had a stint in the government along with the Congress.

Now, with the Congress tying up with the UDP after failure of negotiations with the NCP, to form the government, it remains to be seen how long the new alliance remains intact.

READ MORE - HC stays disqualification of four Meghalaya MLAs

Lapang to be sworn in as Meghalaya CM on Wed

Shillong, May 13 : Senior Congress leader D D Lapang will be sworn in on Wednesday as chief minister of Meghalaya with the party stitching an alliance with regional outfit UDP following failure of talks with NCP.

Congress leader D D Lapang, who arrived at Shillong from New Delhi on Tuesday morning called on Governor R S Mooshary and enclosed a letter of support from the UDP and Independent MLA Donkupar Massar, taking the tally of the alliance to 37 members in the 60 member house.

With the addition of UDP to its fold, the Meghalaya United Alliance (led by Congress) has got the majority for formation and continuation of a viable government, Lapang said in a letter to the Governor.

"We have signed an agreement before the Governor pledging our support to the Congress. The new government will be sworn in tomorrow. We have been given two berths in the cabinet," UDP president and former chief minister Donkupar Roy told reporters, accepting Lapang as the leader of the alliance.

Lapang arrived along with AICC secretary Luizinho Faleiro and Pradesh Congress president Friday Lyngdoh who were present before the Governor when UDP leader Donkupar Roy and J D Rymbai signed the agreement.



As per the agreement the UDP will get a deputy chief ministership and a cabinet berth.

READ MORE - Lapang to be sworn in as Meghalaya CM on Wed

From road labourer to chief minister

Shillong , May 13 : Newly appointed Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Donwa Dethwelson Lapang or simply&aposDD&aposamong his friends, is a man of all seasons, with the distinction of being a member of the first Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 1972.

Born on April 10, 1934 in Shillong , Lapang has travelled a long after starting out as a labourer and going on to serve in various capacities in the Meghalaya government.

Lapang, born in a poor agrarian family, struggled to educate himself, studying at night, while working as a labourer during the day.

After matriculation, he was appointed as an assistant inspector of schools. He later resigned from the government service to pursue a political career.

In 1972, he contested the state assembly elections from Nongpoh as an Independent candidate and became a member of the first legislative assembly in Meghalaya.

He, subsequently, joined the Congress only to lose the seat in 1993 to a rank newcomer, Constantine Lyngdoh.

Lapang, during his early days in the Congress developed strong grassroots contact with the people of his constituency and party workers.

Lapang became chief minister for the first time in 1992. This is his fifth innings as chief minister. He has, however, never completed any of the full term in office.

READ MORE - From road labourer to chief minister

DD Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya CM

Senior Congress leader Donwa Dethwelson Lapang was on Wednesday sworn-in as the chief minister of Meghalaya where President’s rule was lifted on Friday.

Governor RS Mooshahary administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lapang at a programme in Raj Bhavan.

Lapang heads an alliance, Meghalaya United Alliance, comprising Congress and a regional party, United Democratic Party (UDP).

The alliance has 37 MLAs — 26 from the Congress, nine from UDP and two Independents — in the 60-member house which now has an effective strength of 55 following resignation of one UDP MLA and disqualification of four others.

Meghalaya was under President’s rule since 18th March after the governor reported that there was a ‘breakdown of constitutional machinery’.

Besides Lapang, deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma (Congress) and five other ministers — R C Laloo, M M Dangoo, Ampareen Lyngdoh (all Congress), J A Lyngdoh (UDP) and A T Mondol (Ind) — were also sworn-in.

Ampareen Lyndog, who joined the Congress from UDP last month, is not a member of the house now and has to be elected within six months.

READ MORE - DD Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya’s political jig

PATRICIA MUKHIM

‘Elections are an end in themselves and after the results are out, it is usually a free-for-all’. Picture by Eastern Projections Politically, Meghalaya can be named the most unstable state of the Northeast, nay, in the whole country. Here, governments change like the seasons. Elections are an end in themselves and after the results are out, it is usually a free-for-all. Parties of all shades and persuasions come together to build what they call a coalition. But because of the difficulty in electing a leader since everyone is a self-styled boss of his party, what should actually be a coalition of the willing turns out into a rag-tag band of the disparate. In February 2008, when Meghalaya went to the polls, the voters clamoured for change. They were disgusted with the Congress’s malgovernance and corruption, which towards the fag end of the tenure had resembled the story Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Power deals were signed at random with private companies. Ultimately, deals were struck for generating 2000MW power. The down payment that companies paid to ink the deal was something to the tune of Rs 5 lakh per MW. That works out to a tidy sum of Rs 100 crore. But power was not the only resource on sale. Meghalaya is known for its huge limestone deposits. There used to be a beeline of cement companies outside the chief minister’s office ready to strike deals. The going rate for each cement licence was Rs 2 crore. At that time, chief minister D.D. Lapang had allegedly appointed a pointsman to do all the deals. That was the last leg of the Congress regime and every Congressman knew that even if his reputation did not suck, he would have to carry the burden of his colleagues’ acts of omission and commission. Congress versus NCP Surprisingly, the Congress did pretty well with a tally of 25 seats. This lends credence to what James Reston wrote in The New York Times that an election is a bet on the future, not a popularity test of the past. However, there were other factors that helped the cause, of which money is the crux. In the coal belts of Meghalaya, money flowed like wine. Each candidate spent a minimum of rupees 5 crore. Most of the Congress candidates were coal barons, so money was not an issue. Naturally the Congress got the maximum seats from Khasi and Jaintia Hills. In the Garo Hills, the Congress fared poorly. P.A. Sangma’s NCP got 13 out of 24 seats from Garo Hills and two from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The NCP got one more seat in a byelection. Several Congress sitting MLAs and stalwarts from Garo Hills lost. For Sangma, the 2008 elections was an acid test for the NCP and his own acceptability among the Garos. But even with 25 seats in a House of 60 and Himanta Biswa Sarma’s generous help and abetment, the Congress failed to attract allies to form a coalition government. It was Sangma who stitched together a coalition of fringe parties and Independents to form the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) — a government headed by the NCP. However, like an elderly statesman, Sangma made way for the UDP leader Donkupar Roy to be the chief minister. His son Conrad K. Sangma became the deputy chief minister with plum portfolios. Sangma took it upon himself to recast the State Planning Board and give it more teeth instead of making it a sanatorium for failed politicians. Sangma got some of the best brains in the country, comprising scientists and experts in various fields, to join the planning board. For this exercise, few can fault Sangma. Sticky wicket For one year the MPA sailed through rough waters. Its constituents had grave ideological differences, some of which spilled over into the public domain. Franklin D. Roosevelt had once said the science of politics might properly be said to be in large part the science of the adjustment of conflicting group interests. One challenge the MPA faced was in the appointment of political hangers-on to various posts of patronage. The government encountered its first air pocket when one of its MLAs challenged the political appointments, which had reached absurd numbers. There were almost 100 political appointees at all levels and the expenditure incurred in paying their honorarium and allowances were colossal. But there were other storms awaiting the MPA. An Independent MLA and minister while visiting his constituency roughed up all those who he thought did not vote for him. A series of police complaints were registered against him. But he only repeated the acts. The Congress bayed for his head and said he should be sacked. The MPA sat and did nothing. Then the Deputy Speaker got physical with the education minister at a wedding reception. All these marred the reputation of the MPA. But perhaps these were also teething problems that marriages of convenience among people of incompatible traits tend to bring out. Worst crisis What triggered the worst crisis for the MPA was the demise of E.K. Mawlong, the former chief minister and MLA from Umroi constituency. Mawlong’s son, George Lyngdoh, failed to retain the seat. It went, instead, to the Congress. This was a blow that the MPA could not recover from. Having won the Umroi seat, the Congress never rested. It triggered some defections from the MPA and asked the governor to put the government through a confidence vote. Meanwhile, Speaker B.M. Lanong suspended the voting rights of the four MLAs who had resigned overnight and switched loyalties to the Congress. The MPA sailed through the trust vote by a whisker, only after the Speaker gave his casting vote. But Governor R.S. Mooshahary did not consider that a good enough win. He predicted a period of political instability and recommended President’s rule. The UPA ratified his proposal without much ado. Strategic tie-up Now, all of a sudden the Congress and NCP are teaming up to form a government in Meghalaya and President’s rule has been revoked. This new bonhomie is not a creation of the state units but a strategic alliance in the larger national interest. The Congress is not wasting any opportunity to build alliances. The NCP’s Sharad Pawar is all too keen to pick up the threads of friendship from where he left off some time ago. For Meghalaya, this will be the second government in two years. Between 2003-2008 Meghalaya had six governments. With this political instability as its second name can Meghalaya ever develop? Little wonder the state is in the doldrums on all fronts, particularly in health and infrastructure development. A bypass between Umroi and Sohryngkham, which was conceived 25 years ago, is still hanging fire. The Umroi airport remains largely non-viable. We have no railhead and lack proper road connectivity between Garo Hills and Khasi and Jaintia Hills. There are many more on the list of non-achievements if one were to make a compendium of those. Meghalaya is truly a failed state in all sense of the term. And we must thank our political masters for this grand deception. (The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com)

READ MORE - Meghalaya’s political jig

Inferno razes 60 shops in Jaintia Hills

SHILLONG, May 11 : A massive inferno razed nearly 60 shops and houses in Lad Rymbai area in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya on Friday, according to delayed reports here.

According to sources, the fire broke out from one of the dingy shops and spread like a ball of fire and soon turned into a massive inferno. On being informed the Fire service tenders rushed to the spot and took three hours to contain the fire.

According to police sources, the fire spread fast owing to the structure of the houses and plastics, oil and other fast burning materials stored in the shops and houses of the migrant populace in the area.

Police are investigating into the cause of the incident. Residents claimed that properties damaged are worth not less than Rs 10 crore.

READ MORE - Inferno razes 60 shops in Jaintia Hills

Union Cabinet lifts President Rule from Meghalaya

New Delhi, May 9 : The Union Cabinet today decided to lift the President Rule from Meghalaya, which was imposed on the state on March 19, after dismissal of the Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government.

With the chances of installation of a government, likely to be headed by former Congress Chief Minister DD Lapang, the Union Cabinet has taken a view of the situation and decided to lift the President’s Rule.

Earlier, talks for the installation of a Congress-NCP ministry in Meghalaya, which was under President’s rule following dismissal of the MPA Government brightened on Friday with both parties finalising modalities to provide a stable government.

“We have made some breakthrough. We have accepted NCP’s offer to join hands. We are finalising the modalities,” Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told a news agency.

The 60-member assembly, where Congress has 26 MLAs and NCP 14, was under suspended animation since March 19.

NCP leader P A Sangma and Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Luizinho Faleiro have held several rounds of meetings in the national capital during the last few days to sort out their differences, sources said. (ANI)

READ MORE - Union Cabinet lifts President Rule from Meghalaya

Gauhati HC asks Meghalaya Assembly speaker to produce records of disqualifying MLA's

The Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court served a fresh notice to Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Bindo M Lanong, asking him to produce all records pertaining to the disqualfication order to the four legislators on May 13.

The four legislators - Sanbor Shullai (NCP), Paul Lyngdoh of Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and two Independents - Ismail R Marak and Limison D Sangma, were disqualified on April 8 as members of the Assembly for violating the 10th schedule of the Constitution by shifting their allegiance to the Congress.

Justice Ashok Potsangbam, who heard the petition filed by the erring legislators challenging the disqualification order, deferred the hearing to May 13 in lieu of the Supreme Court hearing the ‘transfer-petition’ filed by the Speaker on May 11.

Mr Lanong had said he would stick to his decision. ‘If the cases of the four disqualified MLAs fall through, I will write to the Law ministry to do away with the 10th Schedule of the Constitution,’ the Speaker said.

The four were among the five rebel MLAs, who had deserted the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance and supported the opposition Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) ahead of the trust-vote on March 17, which the NCP-United Democratic Party-led MPA survived with the Speaker invalidating the votes of the five rebel MLAs.

Dr Adviser Pariong of the Hills State People Democratic Party, however, returned to the MPA fold and the party subsequently withdrew its compliant seeking for his disqualification.

Earlier, the Shillong Bench had stayed the interim suspension of the ‘erring’ legislators, but the apex court gave the Speaker free-hand to go ahead with the disqualification proceedings.

READ MORE - Gauhati HC asks Meghalaya Assembly speaker to produce records of disqualifying MLA's

Cong-NCP finalising modalities to form govt in Meghalaya

New Delhi, May 8 : The possibility of installation of a Congress-NCP ministry in Meghalaya, which is currently under President's rule following dismissal of the MPA government, brightened today with both parties finalising modalities to provide a stable government.

"We have made some breakthrough. We have accepted NCP's offer to join hands. We are finalising the modalities," Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told PTI here.

Meghalaya was brought under President's Rule on March 19 last in view of the fluid political situation, dismissing the Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government.

The 60-member Assembly, where Congress has 26 MLAs and NCP 14, has been kept under suspended animation since then.

Sangma said the idea behind Congress and NCP joining hands was to provide a "stable government" in the interest of the people of the state.

With the chances of installation of a government, likely to be headed by veteran Congress leader D D Lapang, Union Cabinet may take a view of the situation and recommend lifting of the President's Rule.

NCP leader P A Sangma and Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Luizinho Faleiro have held several rounds of meetings in the national capital during the last few days to sort out their differences, sources said.

READ MORE - Cong-NCP finalising modalities to form govt in Meghalaya

NCP-Cong coalition to form Government in Meghalaya

NEW DELHI, May 7 – The political crisis in neighbouring Meghalaya is all set to be resolved with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress Party sealing a deal to form the next government.

The UPA Government, which is at its last leg managed to broker a deal between PA Sangma and former chief minister of the State, D D Lapang. A recommendation of Governor R S Mushahary is already pending with the centre.

Sources said overcoming initial reluctance, Sangma, who was the architect of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), gave his consent to join hands with the Congress. Together the two parties have two-third majority in a house of 60.

Though Lapang has been camping in the capital for couple of weeks pressing for revocation of the President’s Rule, the breakthrough came last evening, when Prime Minister convened a meeting with NC leaders Paful Patil, political advisor to Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel and decided to form the next government.

Sources said that Sangma also met the PM ahead of the crucial meet and gave his nod to the deal. According to NCP sources, Union Minister Party chief, Sharad Pawar and Sangma are slated to meet senior Cong leaders soon to work out the modalities of the new deal.

Sangma meanwhile, remained incommunicado and several attempts to contact him proved futile. If sources close to Sangma, is to be believed he is not quite happy with the latest development. The development has prepared the ground for a neat burial of the MPA.

Congress sources said as Lapang has already staked his claim to form the govt, it is matter of time before Governor invites him, possibly later this week.

READ MORE - NCP-Cong coalition to form Government in Meghalaya

Anti-mining group assemble Meghalaya governor

The associate of an anti-uranium mining group, the Langrin Youth Welfare Association, met Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary on May 4th Monday and told him that the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) was annoying to deceive the people through stimulus to bring out mining in the state.

After meeting, members of the anti-mining group said the corporation was deceptive the people by various stimulus, as well as development packages.

The centre was recommended job opportunities to the local residents and Rs 10,000-crore development package through the UCIL

The corporation as well proposes to construct roads, hospitals and supply drinking water.

The president of the anti-mining group, B.S. Lyngdoh, said the Centre, instead of spends in “destructive nuclear energy”, and should focus on harnessing hydel power projects in West Khasi Hills, especially the awaiting Kynshi power project.

The group supports the governor to take instant steps to stop the planned uranium mining and communicate its appeal to the Centre.

Moreover, that uranium mining would have an undesirable outcome on the health of the people alive in the uranium mining sites.

It also pointed out that various villagers would be displacing before the UCIL starts its mining activities.

It handed over to the governor, the newspaper article linked to the public hearing, organized by the UCIL, at Nongbah Jynrin, one of the uranium mining sites in West Khasi Hills on June 12, 2007.

In the public hearing, a most of the people had opposed mining.

READ MORE - Anti-mining group assemble Meghalaya governor

Independent cries repoll

John Kharshiing: Leading the way Shillong, May 4 : Independent candidate for the Shillong parliamentary seat Denis Siangshai today filed a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner for re-polling in as many as 40 polling stations under Jaintia Hills. The moves comes after UDP candidate John Kharshiing lodged a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner and also to the returning officer of Shillong parliamentary constituency. In the complaint, Siangshai said there was booth capturing and rigging by the Congress supporters in more than 40 polling booths in the Assembly constituencies of Nartiang, Jowai, Mowkaiaw, Sutnga and Khliehriat under Jaintia Hills. He urged the Election Commission to conduct repoll in these polling stations in Jaintia Hills alleging that the Congress supporters had engaged in booth capturing and rigging during polling on April 16 to the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. Siangshai said after gathering information from various sources, he had found that there was unprecedented percentage of polling in several polling booths falling under these five constituencies. He also pointed out that in Deinshynrum polling station under Khliehriat constituency, while the total number of voters was 281, the turn out was 282 registering 100.35 per cent polling. Siangshai alleged that Congress supporters had forcefully entered the polling stations of Mookyniang under Jowai Assembly constituency, Wahiajer under Nartiang constituency, Iongkaluh under Khliehriat constituency and Khliehriat West also under Khliehriat constituency and voted in favour of Congress candidate Vincent Pala. The Independent candidate also said during repolling, the Election Commission should ensure that there are adequate security forces, installation of still and video cameras and deployment of micro observers besides other polling officers.

READ MORE - Independent cries repoll

Shaan to perform in Shillong today

SHILLONG, May 2 – Singer Shaan will perform in Shillong on Saturday. The event management house – Fortune Productions has come out with the offer to enable fans to enjoy every bit of the man who sang the super-hit ‘Tanha Dil Tanha Safar’.

The concert will also feature runners up of the Indian Idol 3 from Shillong Amit Paul, Bombay Beats, a Mumbai based pop group and Shillong based pop band Voices Na Rympei.

READ MORE - Shaan to perform in Shillong today

Meghalaya to revive Mid-Day Meal scheme

SHILLONG, may 1 : The Meghalaya Government under President’s Rule will take up the issue of non-release of the State’s quota of rice provided by the Union Government at a meeting in New Delhi scheduled to be held on May 8.

As the centrally-sponsored Mid Day Meal (MDM) Scheme for school-going children has not been implemented in Meghalaya since October last year, the State Government will take up the issue with the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) at a meeting of the Programme Approval Board (PAB) scheduled to be held in New Delhi on May 8, official sources today informed.

The implementation of the MDM was disrupted since October 2008 because the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) did not agree to provide the quota of rice as per the proposal submitted by the State Government last year, the source said, adding that the government will press upon the Central Government to start sanctioning the scheme from this current fiscal year (2009-2010) onwards.

As per the enrolment of students last year, about 6.52 lakh students (LP and EGS - 5.10 lakh and UP- 1.42 lakh) in the State were to benefited from the scheme, but the Central Government rejected the figure stating that it would sanction the scheme only for 2,60,116 (LP and EGS) and 1,39,859 (UP) students.

The Centre through the scheme sanctioned rice for MDM for 10 months, excluding winter holidays (December and January) in each financial year. In 2008-2009 financial year, the State lost the scheme for four months (October 2009 to March 2009 excluding December and January), a government official said adding that the State will urge the Centre to provide the quota of rice as per the work plans submitted by the State to the HRD Ministry recently.

According to the work plans submitted by the State to the HRD Ministry, the students that would benefited from the MDM Scheme in the State include 4,94,000 (LP), 1,39,859 (UP) and 39,000 (EGS).

READ MORE - Meghalaya to revive Mid-Day Meal scheme

MPA stakes claim to form Meghalaya govt

SHILLONG: The NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) met Governor R S Mooshahary on Thursday evening and staked claim to form the government in the state which is under President's Rule. The Governor, however, sought time to take a decision till the withdrawal of the Central rule.

Armed with a list of 27 MLAs, newly-elected MPA legislative party leader and former chief minister J D Rymbai led an MPA delegation to the Raj Bhavan and urged the Mooshahary to invite the coalition to form the government.

"He (Governor) only received our letter in which we staked claim to form government with 27 members, minus the Speaker, in a House of 55," the United Democratic Party (UDP) told newspersons outside the Governor's House.

With the resignation of one MLA and disqualification of four members from the House - the matter is sub judice - the effective strength of the 60-member Assembly stands reduced to 55.

Rymbai said, "The Governor said he would look into the matter once the President's Rule is lifted." It is likely to be taken up after the declaration of results of the Lok Sabha elections, he added.

According to sources, Mooshahary told the MPA delegation that the Congress, too, had forwarded to him a list of 31 MLAs, including the four who were disqualified from the Assembly by the Speaker under provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. "But since the case pertaining to disqualification is sub judice, the Governor will take a decision on government formation," a source said.

Rymbai, however, sounded confident of the MPA's success. "According to our calculation, we will form the government," he said.

MPA spokesperson Manas Chaudhuri also echoed Rymbai's view, saying, "We are confident of forming the government."

On Wednesday evening, Rymbai was elected leader of the legislative party of the MPA. The move came close on the heels of Rymbai replacing former chief minister Donkupar Roy as the leader of the UDP.

The MPA meeting also elected veteran NCP leader P A Sangma its chairman, who will co-ordinate between the various constituents of the alliance.

Owing to strong differences with former chief minister D D Lapang, Rymbai had quit Congress to join UDP ahead of the Assembly elections in March last year.

Meghalaya was brought under Central rule on March 19 following the recommendation of the Governor, who had cited a "breakdown of constitutional machinery" in the state in the wake of the MPA government surviving a controversial test of strength in the Assembly aided by the casting vote of Speaker B M Lanong on March 17.

READ MORE - MPA stakes claim to form Meghalaya govt

Meghalaya top cop's vehicle hits girl, flees

Shillong, May 1 : A top police officer of Meghalaya has been accused of escaping after his car hit a girl, the police said today.

Deputy Inspector General (Eastern Range) Donkupar K Rapthap allegedly tried to speed away after his vehicle hit 20-year-old Baiahun Khongwir at Jaiaw here last evening, the police said.

The DIG's vehicle almost rammed into two other vehicles while speeding off, eye witnesses said.

Angry people chased and caught Rapthap's vehicle a kilometer away, the police said.

Senior police officers rushed to the spot and escorted him to the police headquarters, sources said.

Officials said no action has been taken against Rapthap.

The girl was seriously injured and is recovering in the ICU of a local hospital.

READ MORE - Meghalaya top cop's vehicle hits girl, flees