Ouster bid stings MLAs ~ About Meghalaya

Meghalaya Independents remind govt of support

D.D. Lapang

Shillong, Jan. 13 : The three Independent legislators in the Meghalaya government have reminded the Congress of their contribution in the time of need, perturbed by demands by a section of the party to drop them from the ministry.

Ministers A.T. Mondal, Ismail Marak and Limison Sangma today said the Congress leadership should be grateful to them for their continued support to the government, especially during the political crisis last year following President’s rule.

A few dissident Congress members are camping in Delhi to get an audience from top AICC leaders to push for their removal.

The three were accommodated in the ministry for their support when the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) coalition formed an alternative government in May last year after toppling the Nationalist Congress Party-United Democratic Party-led government.

“Our intention is to provide stability to the government and from day one after the Assembly elections in 2008, I was associating with the Congress which was the single largest party,” Mondal said.

Mondal said he had already met the AICC general secretary in-charge of Northeast, L. Faleiro, in Delhi, over the issue.

To the allegation that the Independents had failed to perform, Mondal said only the chief minister can assess and comment on the performance of his ministers.

After the Assembly elections in February 2008, Congress legislature party leader D.D. Lapang was sworn in as chief minister on March 10, though he did not get majority support of the coalition members.

When Lapang could not prove his majority in the House, the Congress-led MUA government collapsed after nine days, paving the way for the NCP-UDP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) to form the government on March 19.

Despite the change in government, Mondal remained with the Congress.

The MPA government continued in power only till May last year when the MUA toppled it with the help of two Independents, Ismail Marak Limison Sangma and KHNAM member Paul Lyngdoh.

It was after these three legislators switched their allegiance to the Congress-led MUA coalition that an alternative government was formed by Lapang on May 13 last year.