MPA firm on dislodging Lapang Ministry despite Supreme Court blow

Shillong, Mar 12 (UNI) Even as the Supreme Court ruling dealt a major blow to the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), the MPA camp was firm on its stand on dislodging the D D Lapang Ministry.

'' Despite this temporary setback, we are determined to remain intact and to fight the Congress on the floor of the House, '' MPA general secretary Conrad A Sangma said here today.

Yesterday, the MPA had filed a writ petition in the apex court against Meghalaya Governor S S Sidhu for having invited the Congress to form the new government, despite not having the required number of more than 30 MLAs in the House of 60.

The Supreme Court today refused to hear on an urgent basis its petition challenging the appointment of Mr Lapang as Meghalaya Chief Minister before the trial of strength on the floor of the House.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices R V Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari turned down the request of senior counsel Soli J Sorabjee for hearing the matter tomorrow and fixed March 24 for hearing the case.

Presently, the Congress along with the three Independent MLAs have a strength of 28.

The MPA, on the other has 31 MLAs on its side.

One seat is still vacant owing to the sudden demise of Congress candidate of Baghmara constituency.

Election to the Baghmara seat is scheduled on March 22.

Counting will be held on March 25.

Mr Sangma also informed that the MPA candidate for the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker post would be the veteran politician Bindo M Lanong.

Meanwhile, former Meghalaya Tourism Minister and Congress MLA Charles Pyngrope is emerging as the MUA candidate for the post of Speaker.

Mr Sangma also said that the MPA candidate for the coming lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state would be Thomas A Sangma, nephew of Meghalaya's first Chief Minister late Captain W A Sangma.

Besides, being an active member of the NCP, Mr Thomas A Sangma was earlier the Chairman of the Tura Municipal Board.

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