I will prove majority in the House: Lapang

Shillong, Mar 10 (UNI) Newly sworn in Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang today iterated that the Congress is capable of forming a stable government and he would prove his majority on the floor of the House within ten days.

''My job is now to organise and see that the test in the House is successful,'' Mr Lapang told reporters after Governor S S Sidhu administered him oath of office and secrecy at a hurriedly organised swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.

''I will prove my majority and I am sure to do it within ten days,'' he said.

When informed that the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) claimed support of 31 MLAs he said, ''We also say the same thing, but the proper legal and constitutional platform to show the strength is in the Assembly.'' The Congress, which contested in all 59 seats in the March 3 Assembly polls, emerged as the single largest party, short by just six seats to cross the majority threshold in the 60-member House.

However, the Nationalist Congress Party (14), United Democratic Party (11), Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (2), two Independents and one each from the BJP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement under the banner of MPA has a strength of 31 MLAs.

Asked whether he had any written support from any MLAs, the Chief Minister said, '' they are in my files and I am yet to open them.'' On MPA's terming the Governor's invitation to him to be sworn in as the Chief Minister was a ''murder of democracy'', Mr Lapang said the Governor knew it best.

''All I know is that we are the single largest party in the House.'' Meanwhile, the MPA has decided to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court tomorrow against the Governor's ''unethical decision'' for ignoring the constitutional provisions by inviting a minority party in the Assembly to form the government.

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