Lapang Govt falls in Meghalaya, Roy appointed CM

QUICK EXIT: Ten days after his swearing-in, Lapang quits as CM ahead of the trust vote.

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New Delhi: In a major setback to the Congress in Meghalaya, Chief Minister DD Lapang resigned on Wednesday ahead of the confidence vote. The senior Congress leader had been sworn in as the Chief Minister for a fourth term on March 10.

The Governor later appointed Meghalaya's United Democratic Party chief Donkupar Roy as the new Chief Minister. 54-year-old

Roy met Governor S S Sidhu along with other MLAs of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance and was handed over the letter appointing him to lead the new government, Raj Bhavan sources said.

He will be sworn in at the Governor's House at 6.30 pm on Wednesday. MPA spokesman and Khnam MLA Paul Lyngdoh said along with Roy, who heads the regional party, a batch of five to six ministers are expected to take oath.

The Congress-led government in the state was scheduled for a floor test in the Assembly on Wednesday as the Governor had asked Lapang was to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Lapang resigned just before the trust vote, saying his government was unable to muster a majority.

"The Congress could not get the requisite support, so the CLP has decided to resign," Lapang said shortly after a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Wednesday morning.

He said he was going to Governor to submit his resignation. Speaking about the rival Meghalaya Progressive Alliance, he said "it is a bundle of contradictions and will last three months. The Congress will be back."

Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told CNN-IBN that his party tried to save the government, but it was not interested in horse-trading.

The Congress has only 28 MLAs in the 60-member House, two short of a majority. The Opposition, Meghalaya Progressive Alliance, led by the NCP, has been claiming the support of 31 MLAs.

MPA leader and the party's Chief Ministerial candidate Dr Donkupar Roy claimed his front has the strength of 31 MLAs. "The MPA is united, committed and firm to oust the Congress government," he said.

The MPA comprises the NCP (14), UDP (11), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (2), two Independents and one each from the BJP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.

(With agency inputs)