Mar 12In Meghalaya, the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance, which has lost majority in the 60-member house, will seek a vote of confidence in the state assembly on the 17th of this month.

The Chief Minister Donkupar Roy announced this Thursday after meeting Governor R S Mooshahary. Crisis gripped the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government after losing majority following the withdrawal of support by Urban Affairs Minister and the lone member of Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), Mr. Paul Lyngdoh on Wednesday.

In another development the Health Minister and Member of Hills States People's Democratic Party, HSPDP, has also resigned on Thursday.

AIR correspondent K.A. Mallik reports from Shillong that Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy has fixed March 17 as the date to prove his majority in the floor of the House. This came after Governor RS Mooshahary on Thursday directed Chief Minister Donkupar Roy to face the trial of strength in the Assembly. The Chief Minister on Thursday met the governor and briefed him on the prevailing political situation in the state. Congress Legislature Party leader DD Lapang also met the governor in the morning and requested him to advise the Chief Minister to gracefully step down as the MPA government has lost its majority.

Though, the Congress-led MUA claimed of having a majority in the 60-member House, Mr Lapang strangely did not stake his claim for forming the new government. Interestingly, Meghalaya has never witnessed any political party securing the majority except during the first Assembly elections.

The struggle for power was a jigsaw between the Congress and the regional parties. The state has seen 20 governments in the last 36 years. Only in two previous occasions could a chief minister complete the five-year term since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972.