Speaker’s Vote Bails out Meghalaya Government
The Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government on Tuesday scraped through a crucial trust vote with the casting vote by Speaker BM Lanong.
The Speaker cast his vote after the 60 member House witnessed a 27:27 tie during division.
The tie-breaker was necessitated after votes cast by four of the five suspended lawmakers in a secret ballot were deemed invalid by the speaker, the decision brought the Congress down to 27 from an earlier 31 votes.
The Speaker then cast his vote and ensured that the NCP-led coalition survived with 28 votes cast in its favour.
The Donkupor Roy government was reduced to minority on after Independents Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak withdrew support to the government on March 9.
48 hours later on March 11, Paul Lyngdoh of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) – a key minister in the coalition government – pulled out.
A day later Health Minister in the government, Advisor Pariong of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party resigned and went missing.
Deputy Speaker and NCP MLA Sanbor Shullai was also reported missing.
Hit by the trouble chief minister Roy later (March 12) said that his government would face 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 lawmakers that deserted the government.
(With inputs from PTI)
