For the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), it was a question of survival since it sailed into power for more than a year but met a bitter end when the MPA flagship floundered as its main trust ally the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) suddenly deserted it and started negotiations with the Congress in New Delhi to form a pact and take over the reins of governance and administration in the state. This tactical move was about to bear fruit but was not favoured by the stars.

To many, it was a quick and surprising move especially when NCP supreme Mr. Purno A. Sangma who was the architect of the MPA and who was all along very vocal against having any truce with the Congress, suddenly did an about - face, leaving the MPA in the lurch and at the same time started busily making a settlement with the Congress, supposedly his arch enemy. This deal however, could not come into being as there were impending hurdles. Firstly, Mr. Sangma’s pound of flesh was turned to peanuts, glaringly not proportionate as the Congress is the single largest party in the Assembly.

Another major blockade was the timing. The entire nation was awaiting the results of the Lok Sabha polls and to the utter disappointment of those moving for a Congress – NCP tie – up in the state, the NCP could only manage to capture a lone seat, namely Tura, in the entire Northeastern region and only eight in Maharashtra. No amount of pulling strings could fulfill the desire for a Congress – NCP working deal in Meghalaya. Mr. Sangma, for once was check mated as all his political skill and experience could not come to his rescue. It was the United Democratic Party (UDP) of the MPA which took this opportunity and struck while the iron was still hot, especially when it found out that the NCP had abandoned ship. It was therefore in the flag end of the political drama that the UDP took out its trump card. This time, everything fell into place. In a smooth and swift move, the legislative knot between the Meghalaya United Alliance and the UDP was ceremoniously tied. Mr. Sangma finally conceded defeat and said that his party would play the role of a responsible opposition.

On the 25th of May 2009, consequent with the lifting of President’s Rule in the state, the Assembly was re – assembled. One of the most important agenda was the confidence vote of the new government led by Chief Minister D. D. Lapang. There was no tension unlike the earlier trust vote of the MPA government led by Dr. Donkupar Roy in which there was a 27 – 27 deadlock and the then Speaker Mr. Bindo M. Lanong had to save the government by casting his vote. This time around, there was no voting as the presiding Deputy Speaker Mr. Sanbor Shullai announced that the MUA had carried the day with a mere voice vote. The Congress already had the comfortable kitty of 26, UDP – 9, Independents – 5 including those who had been earlier disqualified, the lone Khun Hynniewtrep Nationalist Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and 2 Hills State Peoples Democratic Party – having a comfortable majority of 43 in a house of 60.

The former Speaker Mr. Bindu M. Lanong had made history of sorts in the ruling of disqualification of four members who had crossed over from the MPA to the MUA, in which the state government had termed the situation as a Constitutional crisis and which led to the imposition of President’s Rule in the state. This chapter of the role and power of a Speaker connected with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India would also go down as a separate chapter in the legislative and Constitutional history of the Meghalaya Assembly. In another unprecedented development, the Speaker had stepped down from office and taken over as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers in the Lapang cabinet. The filling up of the subsequently vacant Speaker’s chair can be termed as another feather in the new government’s cap as Charles Pyngrope of the Congresswas elected uncontested. The NCP which had earlier decided to put up a fight by nomination John Manar Marak to contest the post later withdrew for the sake of stability and playing a constructive role as the opposition.

Chief Minister D. D. Lapang had found it difficult to accommodate ministerial posts and Parliamentary secretaries. He has however not forgotten to award berths to those MLAs accused of deserting the MPA, including the lone woman legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh, who had gone so far as to resigned as a member of the Assembly and who has to seek re – election within a period of six months.

The moral of the story is that the MPA had not been able to fulfill the role of a good shepherd and keeping its flock intact while the Congress was brainy enough in causing a cross over to enhance the MUA strength in spite of disqualification. Again the Congress, as a crafty bargainer had chosen the MPA brand, rejecting the NCP mark, in the name of stability.

Sumar Sing Sawian