Guv invites Congress to form govt. in Meghalaya

Shillong, Mar 10 (UNI) Governor S S Sidhu today invited the Congress, led by Mr D D Lapang, to form the next government in Meghalaya.

Mr Lapang, who is the caretaker chief minister, told reporters that the swearing in will take place at 1830 hours.

Mr Lapang said he will prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly.

The Congress has 25 newly-elected legislators in a House of sixty.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance(MPA), led by the Nationalist Congress Party of Mr P A Sangma, has decided to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the governor's decision inviting the Congress to form the government.

''The petition will be filed tomorrow by MPA secretary Conrad K Sangma,'' Mr Sangma told reporters, adding that former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee will fight their case.

''We are surprised that the Governor has invited the Congress with only 25 legislators to form the government which is unconstitutional and undemocratic,'' the NCP leader said.

He also said they would boycott the swearing in ceremony this evening and termed Mr Sidhu's decision a 'murder of democracy'.

UNI RRK PL RN1826