In a political turn around, one of the five suspended legislators, former health minister and Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) member Adviser Pariong, who had cross over to the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) from the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) coalition Government, has requested the Assembly Speaker Bindo M Lanong to revoke his suspension from the Assembly as he had not left his party.

If Pariong’s suspension is revoked the MPA strength will go up to 28 legislators against 27 from the Congess led MUA, nipping the Congress aspiration to form the next Government.

Just before the trust vote on March 17, Pariong had resigned from the Cabinet without informing his party president and Deputy Chief Minister Hopinstone Lyngdoh. After his resignation, Pariong went underground and efforts to trace him by his party failed. He reportedly cross over to the Opposition Congress camp and remained absent during the March 17 confidence motion.

As the HSPDP had filed a complaint against him, Speaker Lanong had suspended him and four others- former Urban Affairs Minister and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) president Paul Lyngdoh, NCP legislator and Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai and Independent legislators Limison D Sangma and Ismail R Marak- just ahead of the confidence motion.

With the suspension of the five legislators, MPA Government survived as Lanong had to cast his deciding vote to break a tie of 27 votes each of the MPA and MUA. However, despite winning the confidence motion, the union Government imposed President Rule putting the Assembly under animated suspension after Governor R S Mooshahary reported of the breakdown of constitutional machinery.

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