NEW DELHI: Meghalaya was Friday placed under the presidents (federal) rule and the state assembly kept under suspended animation ending two-month long political uncertainty in the tiny North-Eastern state.
The presidential proclamation imposing the centers rule in Meghalaya followed a recommendation by the union cabinet which met here Friday morning after cindering two reports about the political developments in the state submitted by Governor Madhukar Dighe.
The federal government’s decision to bring the state under its rule comes three days after chief minister B.B. Lyngdoh’s Govt by vote of confidence m the state assembly.
The reports of the governor took note of the two months political activity in the north eastern state, particularly “transfer of loyalty” by legislators from one group to another.
The reports also observed that the ruling of speaker P.R_Kyndiah, disqualifying four ministers resulted in a controversy and an uncertain situation was created.
After analyzing all these factors, the governor concluded that the present ministry would not be able to function if the opposition did not cooperate. The opposition on its part was also not in a position to imposition of federal rule in the state.
Meghalaya plunged into a constitutional crisis last Tuesday with supporters of chief minister B.B. Lyndon and speaker P.P Kyndiah voting each other out in dramatic circumstances.
Lyndon’s 19-month-old united parliamentary party ministry lost a vote of confidence with the speakers casting vole during a special session of the state assembly called to test his majority following disqualification of four MLAs by the speaker under the defection law.
Soon after the vote, the speaker adjourned the house sine die and abruptly left the house along with the entre opposition. With the opposition benches empty, the 30 members of the ruling Meghalaya united parliamentary party, adopted a resolution removing the speaker with Robert Kharshing presiding.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 25, 1991
