The Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government on Tuesday survived a trust vote with Speaker B M Lanong voting in its favour in the Meghalaya assembly. The Speaker cast his vote when there was a tie in the 60-member House. Four of the five legislators, who were suspended by the Speaker and barred from attending the house, were present and cast their votes. The Speaker announced that their votes were invalid as they had been suspended.
Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya, replacing veteran Congress leader D D Lapang, who quit as the Congress Legislative Party leader on Monday night after losing the support of 21 of the Congress' 28 Members of Legislative Assembly in the 60-member state assembly.Governor Ranjit Sekhar Musahary administered the oath of office to Dr Sangma and three other cabinet ministers at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan in Shillong today afternoon.
Hours before the Nationalist Congress Party-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government faces a trust vote on the floor of the state assembly, Meghalaya Speaker B M Lanong on Monday night suspended five legislators, an action that is expected to help Chief Minister Donkupar Roy to win the trial of strength.