Shillong, March 12: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Monday won a trust vote in the state assembly amid objections by opposition that he did not have a full-fledged ministry.
The combined opposition Meghalaya People's Front (MPF) raised the objection against the vote of confidence moved by Congress legislator D.D. Lapang that only Sangma alone has taken the oath of office as chief minister, and is yet to induct his council of ministers.
"The chief minister has not constituted the council of ministers and they are yet to be sworn-in. The chief minister alone cannot be called the present ministry. How can the chief minister alone run the government," asked Garo National Council legislator Clifford R. Marak.
Supporting Marak's contention, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy also raised objection against Sangma's seeking trust vote in the floor of the assembly.
"For the past many years, the vote of confidence was tabled in the house only after the chief minister and his council of ministers is constituted," Roy said.
However, the chief minister contended that his government has already been formed.
"There's no doubt about the clarity of the government formation. Even if only one, it represents the council of ministers," Sangma said.
The chief minister later told journalists that he would expand his 11-member council of ministers Tuesday morning.
In the 60-member legislature, the Congress has 29 legislators and has the support of two Nationalist Congress Party members and 12 Independents. The combined opposition Meghalaya People's Front has 12 members consisting of eight United Democratic Party members, two National People's Party and two Independent members.
Also in the opposition, the Hill State People's Democratic Party, which has four members, is, however, not part of the opposition alliance.
