NCP-led Meghalaya Govt. loses majority

Shillong, Mar 11 (ANI): The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government lost its majority on Wednesday.

The party was reduced to a minority after a lone MLA from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) withdrew his support.

KHNAM MLA and state Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh resigned early today.

Lyngdoh's resignation letter said, "I have learnt through reliable sources that one of the chief architects of MPA, P A Sangma, has been holding parleys with the Congress for the formation of an alternative government, thereby violating the spirit of the alliance."

"In the light of the developments, I deemed it fit to be in liberty to walk out of the coalition," he said.

On March 9, two other independents, one of whom joined the alliance two weeks back, had also withdrawn support to the MPA.

The two independents are now in the Congress.

The 12-month-old five-party ruling coalition of MPA now has 30 MLAs-NCP 15, UDP 10, Hill State Peoples Democratic Party 2, BJP 1 and two Independents. (ANI)