MPA wins floor test by one vote

Shillong, March 18 : Amid high political drama, the Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government today survived a crucial trust vote scraping through with a casting vote by Speaker Mr BM Lanong.

The Speaker cast his vote when there was a 27:27 tie in the 60-member house during division.

The tie-breaker came after the Speaker invalidated votes cast by four of the five suspended members in a secret ballot. The Congress tally, which had gone up to 31, then dropped to 27.

The Speaker then cast his vote taking the tally of the ruling NCP-led coalition to 28.

The coalition government was reduced to minority on 9 March following withdrawal of support to the MPA by Independents Mr Limison Sangma and Mr Ismail R Marak. The crisis was heightened when on 11 March the lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Mr Paul Lyngdoh, who is also the Urban Affairs Minister, pulled out.

On 12 March, Health minister and Hill State People's Democratic Party MLA Mr Advisor Pariong resigned and went “missing”. Deputy Speaker and NCP MLA Mr Sanbor Shullai was also reported missing.

On the same day, the chief minister announced that he would take a vote of confidence in the Assembly on 17 March.

Earlier today, the Opposition made a ruckus and stalled the proceedings of the House for over an hour insisting clarification from the Speaker over his yesterday's decision to suspend the five deserting MLAs.

The opposition Congress cited Governor R S Mooshahary's directive asking the Speaker to maintain status quo on voting rights of members.

The house was adjourned for 15 minutes after one of the suspended members Lyngdoh challenged the Speaker's ruling.

The Speaker ruled that “natural justice” had been meted out to them as prime facie it appeared that the five MLAs had violated the Anti-Defection law and directed that the vote be taken.

Defying the Speaker's order, the four legislators-- Lyngdoh, Shullai, Sangma and Marak cast their votes.

Immediately after Mr Lanong announced the result of the confidence vote, the opposition Congress members created a din shouting that he was “biased” and had “violated” the Constitution and walked out of the House.