Pro-tem Speaker adjourns House after CM quits

Shillong, Mar 19: Meghalaya Assembly Pro-tem Speaker Hoping Stone Lyngdoh today adjourned the House after announcing that Chief Minister D D Lapang tendered his resignation to the Governor minutes ahead of the floor test.

The House met to take up the trial of strength of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), which will form the next government.

''The House does not have any more business and stands adjourned till tomorrow,'' Mr Lyngdoh said amid thunderous claps from the MPA.

None of the members of the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government was present in the House.

At present there are 59 seats in the 60-member Assembly as election to Baghmara seat was countermanded following the death of a candidate.

Though, the Congress emerged as the single largest party it failed to cross the majority threshold with short of just six seats.

Mr Lapang, however, roped in three Independent MLAs and increased its tally to 28 seats and formed Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA).

On the other hand, the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) with 31 legislators is all set to form the next government. The MPA comprises of NCP(14), UDP(11), Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (2), two Independents and one each from the BJP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.

UNI