Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Meghalaya Govt formation to be delayed as disagreement over ministerial berths continues

NEW DELHI: The formation of the new government in Meghalaya is likely to be delayed following reported disagreement over ministerial berths between NCP and Congress, which also has kept its doors open for UDP. Emboldened with Monday's Supreme Court judgment on Assembly Speaker BM Lanong's plea, Congress will now form the next Government with its MUA allies, leaving room for NCP to join at a later stage.

CLP leader DD Lapang said, "Congress cannot leave out its supporters who came out of MPA to lend their support to MUA."

The NCP has, reportedly, climbed down to at least four plum posts including the post of Deputy Chief Minister for Conrad Sangma, but Congress is hell bent on offering only two posts. "There is opposition to the post of Deputy Chief Minister too," sources said on Monday.

"We have said whatever we wanted to say and the ball is now in the court of Congress," NCP leader Purno A Sangma told The Shillong Times. "After all things have been reached at the level of Prime Minister and Sharad Pawar," he added.

Mr Lapang, meanwhile, feigned ignorance about the formation of the ministry. "I shall go by the wishes of the party high command," he said.

He has delayed his departure to Shillong by a day.

"Congress on its own and along with Independents has majority in the House of 55," Mr Lapang said, adding "whenever we are called we will form the Government and prove our majority on the floor of the House."

The party claims the support of 28 MLAs and expects that the number may go up to 32 in case the High Court gives a favourable verdict.

"If NCP becomes part of the government then the strength would rise to more than two thirds," party sources said.

Incidentally, Mrs Sonia Gandhi had a meeting with the AICC leaders in charge of North East affairs on Saturday night and had given in- principle clearance for going ahead with the ministry formation with NCP in consultation with the state Congress unit.

While the High Command is aware of the ground realities and the numbers, it wants to go with the NCP keeping the national scene in mind in the post-poll scenario.

Because of the ongoing uncertainties the presidential communique has also not been issued so far even though the Cabinet took the decision to revoke President's rule on Friday night.

Source: www.theshillongtimes.com

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