Dopunkar Roy appointed new CM of Meghalaya (Second lead: Meghalaya)

Shillong, Mar 19 : Meghalaya Progressive Alliance leader Dopunkar Roy has been appointed by Meghalaya Governor S S Sidhu as the State's Chief Minister.

Roy will be sworn in later this evening.

Roy will replace D D Lapang who had resigned from the post of CM this morning due to lack of party support.

Lapang told reporters this morning, "Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) is a bundle of contradictions and will last only three months, and I am sure that the Congress will be back."

Former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A Sangma's challenge in the Supreme Court against Sidhu's decision to invite Lapang paved the way for Lapang's resignation. Sangma had claimed that the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) had the support of 31 of the 60 elected members, whereas the Congress had not been able to cobble up a majority.

The Congress won 25 seats in the 60-member Assembly and sought the support of three independent MLAs.

ANI