Shillong, March 3 : In a jolt to the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), Congress candidate Stanlywiss Rymbai defeated his United Democratic Party (UDP) rival George B. Lyngdoh in the byelection to Umroi constituency, the result of which was declared today.
Another minister quits in Meghalaya, CM seeks vote on March 17
Shillong, Mar 12 : Yet another minister on Thursday quit the beleaguered Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government which has lost majority in the 60-member house, as Chief Minister Donkupar Roy announced that he would seek a vote of confidence in the state assembly on March 17.
Mr. Roy announced the date for vote of confidence after meeting Governor Meghalaya R S Mooshahary. Earlier in the day, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Advisor Pariong, belonging to coalition ally Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), resigned from the government.
The ruling coalition was reduced to 30 members yesterday after Urban Affairs minister, Paul Lyngdoh, belonging to the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) withdrew support. Mr. Pariong's 'disappearance' was preceded on March 9 by the withdrawal of support to the MPA by two Independents, Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak.
However, the chief minister claimed that Pariong resigned only from the cabinet and not from the MPA. Mr. Pariong, who sent his resignation to the chief minister by a messenger was reported missing since last night by his party.
Mr. Roy announced the date for vote of confidence after meeting Governor Meghalaya R S Mooshahary. Earlier in the day, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Advisor Pariong, belonging to coalition ally Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), resigned from the government.
The ruling coalition was reduced to 30 members yesterday after Urban Affairs minister, Paul Lyngdoh, belonging to the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) withdrew support. Mr. Pariong's 'disappearance' was preceded on March 9 by the withdrawal of support to the MPA by two Independents, Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak.
However, the chief minister claimed that Pariong resigned only from the cabinet and not from the MPA. Mr. Pariong, who sent his resignation to the chief minister by a messenger was reported missing since last night by his party.
Congress dents MPA armour
| UDP fails to cash in on Mawlong sympathy wave, loses Umroi bypoll | ||
The UDP, which had won the seat in the Assembly polls last year, could not cash in on the sympathy wave following the death of sitting legislator and former chief minister E.K. Mawlong on October 18 last year. Rymbai, who lost the seat to Mawlong last year by 965 votes, defeated his son by 450 votes in the bypoll. Rymbai secured 11,766 votes, while Lyngdoh got 11,316. Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP) candidate Erwin Sutnga got 601 votes and Independent candidate Phrina Warjri got 207 votes. The victory is a boost to the Congress as it raises the party’s tally from 25 to 26 in the 60-member House. The Congress-led Opposition, Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA), also has the support of an Independent. The Congress, which is preparing for the Lok Sabha elections to retain the Shillong seat, sees the victory as a positive development after having lost all the four seats, including Umroi in Ri Bhoi, in the just-concluded district council elections. The victory has also improved the image of former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party leader D.D. Lapang, whose leadership had been questioned following the debacle as Lapang is from Ri Bhoi. The veteran leader today said he was happy that the people of Umroi had reposed faith in the Congress. The party is just waiting for a chance to return to power in the state with like-minded parties and Independents. A senior Congress legislator said the party would now try its best to get back to power. “We are the single largest party with 26 members and like-minded parties are welcome to work with us,” he added. The AICC secretary in-charge of Meghalaya, Maj. (retd) Ved Prakash, had earlier said the Congress was ready to form the next government with the support of like-minded parties and Independents as the MPA had failed to deliver the goods. To thwart the attempt of the Congress to form an alternative government, the UDP had roped in Independent Limison Sangma two days before the byelection, raising its tally to 33. Sangma was earlier supporting the Congress-led MUA. Senior UDP leader and Speaker Bindo Lanong ruled out any threat to the ruling alliance with its present strength. The UDP, however, admitted that the defeat was a setback and alleged that money power had played a major role in the bypoll’s outcome. Lanong said though there was evidence that the Congress had distributed money in Umroi, the MPA leadership, especially the UDP, had not taken the matter seriously. “I had told the chief minister and the UDP leaders that effective steps should be taken to check the trend of the Congress using money power, but no one listened to me,” he said, adding that the party’s election strategy should have been different for Umroi. After the defeat, Lyngdoh said, “I accept the defeat, satisfied with the services rendered to the people. This is also a bitter lesson for the educated youths who wanted to come up as leaders in state politics.” A jubilant Rymbai said victory was a foregone conclusion for him even while he was campaigning for the bypoll. “I will work for the development of Umroi in the days to come,” he added. |
Congress not keen to topple MPA govt: Lapang
Shillong, Mar 2 : The opposition Congress in Meghalaya today said it was not keen to topple the NCP-backed Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government, but would adopt a wait and watch policy.
”We will openly play a constructive role from our present opposition, but if the government falls on its own, the Congress will take some steps to save the situation, if the occasion arises,” Leader of the Opposition and State Congress president D D Lapang told UNI here.
He, however, claimed that indications were shown in the form of ”writing on the wall” that this government would collapse under its own weight.
The former chief minister was reacting when asked whether the Congress was still keen to topple the MPA coalition government after wresting the Umroi seat from the United Democratic Party, the major ally of the MPA.
Congress candidate Stanly Wiss Rymbai defeated UDP’s George B.
Lyngdoh by a margin of 446 votes.
With this win, the Congress, which has now emerged as the single largest party in the 60-member House, has increased its tally from 25 to 26, and added strength of 27 in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance.
In fact, the Congress required just four more legislators to tip the balance in their favour but failed to sway any so far.
Alleging that Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy lacked proper direction, courage and vision, Mr Lapang said, ”This government will fall on its own due to its bundle of contradictions, infighting, confrontation and mudslinging among the MPA partners.” ”But we still hope and expect that they (MPA government) will be able to survive and sort out their differences and remain united so that they will be able to create confidence in the minds of the people,” the Congress leader claimed.
”We will openly play a constructive role from our present opposition, but if the government falls on its own, the Congress will take some steps to save the situation, if the occasion arises,” Leader of the Opposition and State Congress president D D Lapang told UNI here.
He, however, claimed that indications were shown in the form of ”writing on the wall” that this government would collapse under its own weight.
The former chief minister was reacting when asked whether the Congress was still keen to topple the MPA coalition government after wresting the Umroi seat from the United Democratic Party, the major ally of the MPA.
Congress candidate Stanly Wiss Rymbai defeated UDP’s George B.
Lyngdoh by a margin of 446 votes.
With this win, the Congress, which has now emerged as the single largest party in the 60-member House, has increased its tally from 25 to 26, and added strength of 27 in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance.
In fact, the Congress required just four more legislators to tip the balance in their favour but failed to sway any so far.
Alleging that Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy lacked proper direction, courage and vision, Mr Lapang said, ”This government will fall on its own due to its bundle of contradictions, infighting, confrontation and mudslinging among the MPA partners.” ”But we still hope and expect that they (MPA government) will be able to survive and sort out their differences and remain united so that they will be able to create confidence in the minds of the people,” the Congress leader claimed.
MPA cautious on assault charges
Shillong, Dec 18 : With three legislators in the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) facing assault charges, the MPA today said the government would not shield any politician who is found guilty.
The MPA also favours putting in place a “discipline mechanism” so that the legislators behave with decorum. Government spokesman Conrad Sangma told reporters that the government would not be soft on legislators involved in cases of assault involving MPA members.
He reiterated that there would be no political interference and the police had been given a free hand to probe the incidents.
The next meeting of the MPA, scheduled for early January, is likely to discuss the need to frame a behavioural code in the form of specific guidelines for MPA members.
On October 2, mining minister Donkupar Massar allegedly assaulted some labourers of Borsora. Soon after the labourers filed the FIR, the police started the investigation but are yet to submit the report. The delay in taking action irked the Opposition Congress and it criticised the government for shielding the minister.
On November 12, acase of assault was filed against another legislator, government chief whip Adolf Lu Hitler Marak, following an FIR by his personal security officer, S. Lyngdoh. However, Marak denied the charge and filed a counter FIR.
The third case was last week’s alleged assault oneducation minister Manas Chaudhuri by Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai at a marriage reception. Shullai has also filed a counter FIR denying the charge.
While Massar and Chaudhuri are Independent legislators supporting the MPA, both Marak and Shullai are from the NCP.
When contacted, Meghalaya director-general of police B.K. Dey Sawian said there was no political interference in any of the cases. He said investigations were nearly complete in Massar’s case, while the probe into the other two incidents was in progress.
