Lapang sworn in, livid MPA to move Supreme Court today

Shillong (PTI): Senior Congress leader D D Lapang was on Monday sworn in as Meghalaya Chief Minister by Governor S S Sidhu who rejected the demand of the newly-formed NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) saying the decision was aimed at preventing horse-trading.
Three-times Chief Minister, Lapang, 74, was the only one to be sworn in and was asked by the governor to prove his majority on the floor of the House in ten days.
Stung by the Governor's decision, the MPA led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma decided to move the Supreme Court tomorrow against installation of the Congress government.
The Congress, with 25 MLAs in a 60-member House, had emerged as the single largest party but the MPA paraded 30 MLAs twice before the Governor, once this morning, and staked its claim.
Defending his decision to call Congress, Sidhu, a former bureaucrat, said "the MPA is not a pre-poll alliance and under such a situation the single largest party should be called to form the government according to convention."
When it was pointed out that the MPA had claimed the support of 31 legislators, he said "Raj Bhavan is not the place to test the position. It has to be proved on the floor of the House."
Sidhu said his decision was also aimed at preventing horse trading and to maintain healthy traditions.
Earlier, NCP leader P A Sangma led 30 MLAs comprising 14 from his party, 11 of UDP, two of HSPDP, one each from the BJP and KHNAM and two independents before the Governor.
The Hindu; Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008