Thursday, March 13, 2008

Congress will be defeated during floor test: Sangma

Not being happy with the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with Governor's decision to swear in a Congress-led Government, NCP leader PA Sangma on Thursday expressed confidence that the Congress will be defeated during the floor test in the Meghalaya assembly.

"We are dissatisfied by the Supreme Court's verdict, but we are not perturbed. Congress will be defeated by the members of MPA," Sangma told PTI.

However, he said the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) accepts the Supreme Court verdict, declining to interfere with Governor S S Sidhu's decision.

Petitioner for the MPA, Sangma's son and NCP MLA Conrad Sangma said the court had issued a notice to the governor asking him to explain the consequences that led to his decision to invite the Congress to form the government despite it being in the minority.

"We had also asked to prepone the trial test in the assembly, but the court said issuing of notices to all concerned will take time and ultimately the purpose of the exercise would be futile as it will exceed the time given by the governor. So the court sustained the time frame of ten days to the Congress to prove its majority," Conrad said.

Accepting the verdict, Conrad however maintained that the MPA will remain united come what may. "We have decided to campaign for the elections to the Baghmara seat unitedly. The fight will be against the Congress. We will rout them," he said.

Independent MLA and MPA member Manas Choudhury said, "The induction of the independent MLAs in the cabinet by the Congress is a ploy to lure the members of the MPA. But our members will not step in the trap. We are united and we will remain so."

The KHANM and HSPDP members also reiterated their commitment to kep the MPA united.

Meanwhile, the MPA has elected its candidate for the post of the speaker in the eighth Meghalaya assembly. UDP MLA Bindu Lalong will be the MPA's candidate in the election to the speaker slated for March 18.

The NCP, however, was given the edge in the elections to the Rajya Sabha. Former chairman of the Tura Municipal Board and veteran NCP leader Thomas A Sangma will be the MPA's candidate for the March 26 Rajya Sabha elections.

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