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E K Mawlong ministry voted out in Meghalaya

The minority E K Mawlong coalition ministry in Meghalaya was on Friday voted out of power when it was defeated in a trial of strength in the 60-member assembly in the wake of a controversy over the Meghalaya House construction scam in Calcutta.

An opposition no-confidence motion was defeated in a voice vote when Speaker E D Marak put it to the house on the opening day of the winter session.

With an overwhelming chorus of 'ayes', the speaker declared that the Mawlong government has been defeated.

Shortly afterwards, leader of the 42-member Peoples Forum of Meghalaya, Dr F A Khonglam, accompanied by the leader of the opposition in the house D D Lapang of the Congress party, a constituent of the PFM, proceeded to the Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form a new government before Acting Governor Arvind Dave.

R G Lyngdoh of the Congress party had moved the no-confidence motion.

Earlier, in the house, loyalist ministers of Mawlong, including Health Minister Dr Donkuper Roy, the new deputy leader of the United Democratic Party and Urban Development Minister, Roshan Wajri, lodged protests with the speaker.

They said the speaker had not given Mawlong an opportunity to explain the corruption charges against him over the deal for constructing a multi-storey building on the site of the Meghalaya House in Calcutta.

They said the speaker could not take up the no-confidence motion without conducting the other business listed for the day.

The speaker said as a majority of members in the house had demanded that the no-confidence motion be discussed, he had suspended other matters listed for the day.

At one point, loyalist ministers had to be pushed back by the marshal and his staff from the speaker's podium, where they had rushed after the no-confidence motion was taken up.

Leader of the opposition D D Lapang said as Mawlong's government had been reduced to a minority two weeks ago, the speaker could give a ruling for the no-confidence motion.

Mawlong also stood up to accuse the speaker of taking the decision on the no-confidence motion 'on his own'.

"The speaker has taken the decision by himself and did not give me a chance to speak or clarify my position. It is unfair," Mawlong said.

Later, the chief minister rushed to the Raj Bhavan to complain to the governor.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya assembly admitted a motion for removal of the Speaker E D Marak, soon after the E K Mawlong ministry was voted out of power on the floor of the house.

Health Minister in the outgoing ministry, Dr Donkupar Roy, moved the resolution taken by 12 MLAs, including the chief minister.

Admitting the motion, Marak said, it was for the removal of the speaker under Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Meghalaya legislative assembly.

The speaker fixed Monday for discussing the motion.

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