D D LAPANG was sworn in Meghalaya’s Chief Minister for the second time in just over a year on Wednesday by Meghalaya Governor R S Mooshahary. He also administered the oath of office to Congress legislators Mukul Sangma, R C Laloo, Martin Danggo and Ampareen Lyngdoh.

As the Congress is in coalition with the United Democratic Party (UDP), its legislator J A Lyngdoh and Independent MLA A T Mondal found Cabinet berths. Five more ministers will be inducted later.

With the installation of the Congress-led coalition Government on Wednesday, Meghalaya now has the dubious distinction of not only having four governments in just over a year, but also having 22 governments in the 36 years of its existence as a state. This is Lapang’s fourth term as CM.

Immediately after the Assembly election in March last year, Lapang was sworn in as the chief minister after the Congress bagged 25 of the 60 Assembly seats. He, however, had to demit office as the Congress could not enlist the support of other political parties to muster a majority in the Assembly within the stipulated 10 days. This paved the way for the formation of an NCP-UDP-led coalition government styled as the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA). The HSPDP, the KHNAM and two Independent legislators were also part of this grouping.

The MPA could not even complete a year in office as the Congress managed to trigger a political crisis within it by successfully poaching KHNAM president and legislator Paul Lyngdoh and the two Independents, resulting in the imposition of President’s Rule on March 18.