Congress garners support of 3 independents in Meghalaya (Final lead: Meghalaya)

Shilong, Mar 11 : The Congress Party on Tuesday managed to garner support of three independent Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) thus reaching the mark of 28 in the 60-member State Assembly.

With the help of three independents, the Congress party has formed the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA).

Congress Legislature Party leader D. D. Lapang was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the State on Monday.

Lapang was the only member of the cabinet who was sworn in by Governor S S Sidhu.

Sidhu has asked Lapang to prove his majority within ten days.

Meanwhile, Sidhu's decision to invite Lapang to form the next government in the state has been challenged in the Supreme Court by former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A Sangma.

In a petition filed before an apex court bench, the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) had claimed that it had the support of 31 of the 60 elected members, whereas the Congress had not been able to cobble up a majority. The court has posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

The MPA paraded 30 MLAs twice before the Governor and also staked its claim.

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

Sangma termed the decision of the Governor as 'undemocratic' and 'unconstitutional'.

ANI