Fresh jolt to coalition government in Meghalaya

SHILLONG, July 31: The ruling coalition government in Meghalaya received another jolt yesterday with the United Democratic Party (UDP) central executive committee authorising the party's legislature party to take a "final decision" on the continuance of the coalition. The decision was taken by the UDP body at a meeting here yesterday which was presided over by party president and state Speaker, EK Mawlong. Mawlong told newsmen at the end of the marathon six hour-long meeting that "we have set no timeframe On the turnaround made by the UDP barely 24 hours after the Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum (MPF) reiterated its commitment to the coalition, Mawlong said many party members from the Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills districts were in favour of severing ties with the Congress. The UDP committee dealt another blow to the coalition by resolving to support the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate PA Sangma for the Tura parliamentary seat on condition that the NCP would reciprocate by supporting the UDP candidate SD Khongwyr from Shillong. The UDP committee also decided to move the government to "roll back" the age of superannuation of state government employees to 58 years from the recently enhanced 60 years, apparently bowing to pressures from the powerful Khasi Students' Union (KSU). The Meghalaya Students' Federation (MSF), of which the KSU is a constituent has given a call for a 24-hour statewide bandh on August 3 demanding a reduction of the retirement age of 58 years among others.