Cong to back Khonglam coalition?

SHILLONG, April 18 ? The Congress party, a coalition partner in the Peoples? Forum of Meghalaya (PFM) Government, was likely to continue in the coalition despite differences within the party over dropping of seven Congress ministers, reports PTI. ?As the Treasury bench is unstable, the Congress cannot opt out of the Government,? Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer, in-charge of north-eastern States, said here today. Aiyer arrived here yesterday for an on-the-spot study of the political situation in the State, held a marathon meeting last night at the residence of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Salseng C Marak. Aiyer told newsmen that he heard the opinions of the legislators, but whatever decision would be taken, that would be with consensus in the party. He said he would submit the report of the meeting to Sonia Gandhi after going back to New Delhi. The Meghalaya Congress is a divided house after Chief Minister FA Khonglam dropped seven Congress Ministers to accommodate United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators, who joined PFM Government last month. Congress legislature party leader and Deputy Chief Minister DD Lapang preferred to continue with PFM government while KC Boro and some others who were dropped from ministership, called for discontinuation. Khonglam, the lone Independent, now heads a 39-member Ministry comprising 56 MLAs in the 60-member House. The ruling coalition now comprises the Congress ? 16 members, NCP ? 15, UDP ? 13, Meghalaya United Democratic Party ? 8, Hill State People?s Democratic Party ? 2, People?s Democratic Movement ? one and Independent ? one.