Lapang sworn in as CM, livid NCP to move apex court

Senior Congress leader DD Lapang was today sworn in as Meghalaya chief minister by Governor SS Sidhu, who rejected the claim of newly-formed NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) saying the decision was aimed at preventing horse-trading.

Three-time chief minister, Lapang, 74, was the only one to be sworn in. He was asked by the governor to prove his majority on the floor of the House in ten days.

Stung by the governor's decision, the MPA, led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma, decided to move the Supreme Court tomorrow.

The Congress, with 25 MLAs in a 60-member House, had emerged as the single largest party but the MPA paraded 30 MLAs twice before the governor and staked its claim to form government.

Defending his decision to call the Congress, Sidhu, a former bureaucrat, said, "The MPA is not a pre-poll alliance and under such a situation the single largest party should be called to form government according to convention."

When it was pointed out that the MPA claimed the support of 31 legislators, he said, "Raj Bhavan is not the place to test the position. It has to be proved on the floor of the House."

Sidhu said his decision was aimed at preventing horse-trading and to maintain healthy traditions.

Earlier, NCP leader PA Sangma led 30 MLAs ""14 from his party, 11 from the UDP, two from the HSPDP, one each from the BJP and the KHNAM and two independents before the governor.

Meanwhile, the NCP alleged that three of the five Independent MLAs have been kept under illegal custody by the Congress.

"We have learnt that the Congress has used the state machinery to illegally detain three Independent MLAs who are willing to join us. We have registered our complaint with the authorities, including the governor. They should be given freedom to select sides," NCP MP Robert Kharsiing said at Raj Bhavan.

The Congress, however, dismissed this as baseless.

Kharshiing claimed that two of the three "kidnapped" MLAs, Smail Marak and Limison Sangma, assured support to the MPA over telephone and were likely to join them formally today.

"You can see we have the majority. The governor said he would take the decision tonight," he said.

In the wake of reports that they had been contacted by the Congress, the MLAs of the HSPDP and KHNAM said, "We have pledged support to the MPA, there is no going back."

Meanwhile, Pro Tem Speaker HS Lyngdoh was sworn in by the governor this morning at Raj Bhavan.