New Congress-NCP coalition likely in Meghalaya

Shillong: Former Lok Sabha speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader P A Sangma on Saturday hinted at a coalition government headed by the Congress, after the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government was reduced to a minority.

"For the sake of stability and development, I am ready for any arrangement," Sangma told journalists.

The veteran tribal leader, who was instrumental in toppling the Congress-led 10-day-old government in March last year and forming the MPA, hinted that he was not averse to the idea of a coalition government comprising the Congress, NCP, and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The NCP and the UDP were the major constituents of the MPA government with Chief Minister Donkupar Roy belonging to the UDP.

"If independent MLAs can hold the state to a ransom, it does give us some food for thought," Sangma maintained.

The strength of the MPA has gone down to 28 in the 60-member legislature, while the Congress claims it commands the support of 32 legislators.

Two ministers - Advisor Pariong and Aul Lyngdoh - and Deputy Speaker Sanbar Shullai, besides two independent legislators, have withdrawn support to the MPA government in the past six days.

All the five legislators were apparently unhappy over the functioning of the MPA government and cited lack of development works in their respective constituencies, among other things.

The MPA government would face a floor test in the assembly Tuesday but indications are that the chief minister might resign ahead of the trial of strength to pave the way for the Congress led by D.D. Lapang taking charge of a new coalition government.

Meghalaya is known for its hop-skip-and-jump politics with legislators switching loyalties at the drop of a hat.

After the March 2008 assembly elections, Lapang was sworn-in as chief minister of a Congress-led coalition government but resigned 10 days later ahead of a scheduled trust vote, having failed to muster majority support.

Political instability is the hallmark of Meghalaya. The state has seen six different governments with varied combinations of political parties, resulting in four chief ministers in a span of five years between 1998 and 2003.

There were just two occasions since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972 when a chief minister was able to complete his full five-year term.