Shillong, Sept. 7: The leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Meghalaya, D.D. Lapang, today said the contradictions within the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) would bring down the present government.
Amid murmurs that the Congress has been making efforts to reach out to some members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form an alternative government, Lapang said: “We need not try hard now to bring down the government as the inner contradictions within the MPA will bring about its downfall.”
There were reports that the PCC’s efforts to form an alternative government in the state had the blessings of the Congress high command.
The AICC general secretary in-charge of Northeast, Margaret Alva, said over phone that the AICC aimed at a Congress-NCP tie-up in Meghalaya like the one in Maharashtra.
Though the six-month-old coalition ministry in Meghalaya is free of corruption and charges of mis-governance, the Congress-led Opposition is banking on sharp differences within the MPA on excessive appointments in various boards and corporations.
Lapang hinted that the differences within the MPA over excessive political appointments resulting in huge expenditure and the resentment of some legislators for not getting ministerial berths would continue to haunt the ministry leading to its downfall in the near future.
Having failed to poach the disgruntled MLAs of the UDP and the NCP, the Congress is aiming at two Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP) legislators and one from the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM).
A Congress leader confirmed the move and said that any group was welcome to support the Congress to help form a Congress-led government in the state.
The Congress may also seek the support of three Independents.
Congress spokesman R.C. Laloo, whose name figured as a contender for the post of the CLP leader, denied reports that the high command was planning to remove Lapang from the CLP leadership.
It was a ploy of some members in the MPA to create confusion, he alleged.
“I have told Lapang that when he will be old and no longer be able to handle party affairs, I can offer my services or for that matter any other legislator can take the position.”
Senior UDP leader and Speaker Bindo Lanong who claimed that he had been offered by the Congress the post of chief minister if a new combination was worked out, said the move to have a new government by the Congress would be wishful thinking.
The UDP in a party conference at Williamnagar on Friday pledged that the MPA would remain united to complete its full five-year term.
