Shillong, May 31: Regional coalition partners of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) breathed a sigh of relief today as chief minister D.D. Lapang made it clear that his government would continue in its current shape, without any changes. There was speculation in political circles that Lapang would part ways with regional partners like the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and join hands with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Lapang has surprised political analysts and critics by sticking to the old combination.
With equations changing in Delhi, attempts were being made by some Congress and NCP Meghalaya unit legislators to set up a new coalition.
However, speculation of a new combination taking over from the MDA has been set at rest by the political affairs committee of the Congress (PACC), which held a series of meetings during the last couple of days.
The PACC decided that it would continue with the regional parties and stick to its pledge of “providing stability”, which it had taken soon after the MDA was formed.
“There are several reasons, but the most important one is that Kyndiah does not want Purno Sangma loyalists to be in power in the state,” said a Congress member.
Congress members blame Purno Sangma for triggering instability in Meghalaya in the past.
Doner and tribal affairs minister Kyndiah is said to have overlooked the fact that the regional parties had set up a consensus candidate against him in the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency.
Lapang had expressed displeasure after the regional parties decided to field a consensus candidate against the Congress candidate.
Lapang is all set to trim his 12-member ministry from the existing 41, according to the new law that was enacted in Parliament.
The Congress is likely to have a total of six legislators in the downsized ministry.