Shillong: If Karnataka saw BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa as chief minister with the shortest tenure in the country, just three days, Meghalaya had a similar situation way back in 2008 in former chief minister D.D. Lapang.

Lapang, the veteran Congress leader who retired as legislator after representing Nongpoh Assembly constituency for 40 years, took oath as chief minister for the fifth time on March 10, 2008.

Former Meghalaya governor Shivinder Singh Sidhu had invited the Congress to form the government after emerging as the single largest party with 25 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly and given 10 days to prove his majority.

However, like Yeddyurappa, Lapang failed to garner support and within nine days, he resigned on March 19, 2008. Donkupar Roy of the UDP was then sworn-in as chief minister on March 20, 2008 and led a seven-party coalition government, with the support of former Lok Sabha Speaker late Purno Agitok Sangma who was leading the NCP that time.

Thus Lapang served the shortest tenure as chief minister of Meghalaya, just nine days in office.

Meghalaya has also seen two-time chief minister, Salseng C. Marak holding office for just 13 days. Marak, a senior Congress leader, was administered oath as chief minister for the second time on February 27, 1998 but he resigned on March 10, 1998 after failing to get majority.

Former chief minister, late Brington Buhai Lyngdoh, had also served as chief minister for 30 days from March 2, 1983 to March 31, 1983. The first Meghalaya chief minister, late Williamson A. Sangma, had served for 58 days from January 21, 1972, to March 18, 1972.

The second chief minister of Meghalaya, Darwin Diengdoh Pugh, had been in office for 75 days from February 21, 1979 to May 6, 1979.