Meghalaya Democratic Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) was a coalition
of political parties that formed the Government
in the state of Meghalaya
, India after the Legislative Assembly elections in Meghalaya, 2003
. It was headed by the Indian National Congress
(INC), which was the party with the highest number of seats in the 7th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
. Chief Minister D. D. Lapang
and the other ministers in the Government were all members of the MDA. D. D. Lapang also served as the Chairperson of the MDA.
was elected the leader of the Congress Legislative Party
(CLP).
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
first made a bid to form the Government, but they gave up when they couldn't provide the Governor M.M. Jacob with sufficient number of MLAs to prove majority in the Assembly.
The INC then formed the MDA along with other parties and independents
opposed to the NCP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
.
The MDA pledged to work for the state's economic development and also to provide stability of the government.
With 40 members in the 60 member Assembly, Governor M.M. Jacob invited the MDA to form the Government. D. D. Lapang was sworn in as Chief Minister on 4 March 2003.
In addition the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HPDP)
had also expressed willingness to join the MDA, but their MLAs were not provided to the Governor when the MDA stakes claim to form the Government.
D. D. Lapang (INC) served as the Chairperson of the MDA while Dr. Donkupar Roy
(UDP) served as the Deputy Chairperson. Martle Mukhim (MDP) served as the Treasurer and R. G. Lyngdoh (INC) served as the Spokesperson.
Later in 2003, one additional independent joined the MDA, taking the total number of independents supporting the MDA to 4, and the total strength of the MDA to 43.
On 16 December 2003, 6 legislators from the opposition NCP broke away from their party and formed a new party called the Meghalaya Nationalist Congress Party (MNCP)
. They then joined the MDA coalition increasing the strength of the coalition to 49. 4 of the 6 MNCP legislatures were given ministerial positions in the MDA Government.
, the NCP joined the INC-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
to form the Government of India
. It was believed that this decision, might result in the MDA being disbanded with an INC-NCP combination to form the new Government in Meghalaya. However, on 31 May 2004, D. D. Lapang confirmed that the regional MDA coalition would not be affected by the new alliance at the central Government.
In mid-2006, internal conflicts with the Meghalaya Congress Legislative Party (CLP) led to D. D. Lapang resigning as the CLP leader and as the Chief Minister under orders from the Congress high command. His former protege, J. D. Rymbai
was elected new leader of the CLP and Chief Minister on 15 June 2006. Despite the leadership change, the internal conflicts continued with both Lapang and Rymbai claiming majority support in the CLP. After less than a year in-charge, Rymbai was directed by the Congress high command to relinquish the position to Lapang after a secret confidence vote determined that Rymbai no longer had majority support. After refusing to comply with the high command directive for 5 days, Rymbai finally resigned on 10 March 2007. Lapang was reelected as the CLP leader and was sworn in as Chief Minister on 10 March 2008.
all the regional parties forming the MDA decided to contest against the INC. The UDP, MDP, KHNAM and HPDP fielded candidates against INC and made corruption and government failure as their main election issues to garner votes against the INC.
This effectively meant the quiet demise of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance after a 5-year survival.
The MDA was effectively replaced by the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) after the 2008 elections as INC tried to form the Government with support from independents.
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
of political parties that formed the Government
Government of Meghalaya
The Government of Meghalaya also known as the State Government of Meghalaya, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Meghalaya and its 7 districts...
in the state of Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, India after the Legislative Assembly elections in Meghalaya, 2003
State Assembly elections in India, 2003
-Chhattisgarh:Party No. of candidates No. of elected No. of votes %Bharatiya Janata Party 90 50 378991439,26%Bahujan Samaj Party 54 2 429334 4,45%Communist Party of India 18 0 1037761.08%...
. It was headed by the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
(INC), which was the party with the highest number of seats in the 7th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly is a unicameral legislature in the government of the state of Meghalaya in India. Constituted as a directly elected body in 1972, it comprises 60 members, filled through direct elections held every five years. Like other Indian states, Meghalaya has a...
. Chief Minister D. D. Lapang
D. D. Lapang
Dr. Donwa Dethwelson Lapang , popularly known as Dr. D. D. Lapang, is a politician from Meghalaya, India, and the ex-chief minister of Meghalaya....
and the other ministers in the Government were all members of the MDA. D. D. Lapang also served as the Chairperson of the MDA.
History
After the 2003 elections to Legislative Assembly, INC Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) D. D. LapangD. D. Lapang
Dr. Donwa Dethwelson Lapang , popularly known as Dr. D. D. Lapang, is a politician from Meghalaya, India, and the ex-chief minister of Meghalaya....
was elected the leader of the Congress Legislative Party
Legislative Party
In India, the members of Parliament or Vidhan Sabhas that belong to a particular political party are known as the Legislative Party. For example, the Congress Party's legislators are known as the Congress Legislative Party or CLP...
(CLP).
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
first made a bid to form the Government, but they gave up when they couldn't provide the Governor M.M. Jacob with sufficient number of MLAs to prove majority in the Assembly.
The INC then formed the MDA along with other parties and independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
opposed to the NCP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
.
The MDA pledged to work for the state's economic development and also to provide stability of the government.
With 40 members in the 60 member Assembly, Governor M.M. Jacob invited the MDA to form the Government. D. D. Lapang was sworn in as Chief Minister on 4 March 2003.
Initial Support
At the time of its formation, the MDA included the following members:- Indian National Congress (INC)Indian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
(22 MLAs) - United Democratic Party (UDP)United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)The United Democratic Party is a political party recognised in Meghalaya state, India. It is led by Donkupar Roy....
(9 MLAs) - Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP)Meghalaya Democratic PartyThe Meghalaya Democratic Party is a political party recognised in the India state of Meghalaya. Its symbol is the bicycle, and chief is M.D. Mukhim. The MDF is aligned neither with the NDA nor with the UPA....
(4 MLAs) - Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM)Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening MovementThe Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement is a political party formed recently in Meghalaya, India. Its president and leader is Mr. P. Lyngdoh, a former student’s union leader...
(2 MLAs) - independentsIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
(3 MLAs)
In addition the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HPDP)
Hill State People's Democratic Party
The Hill State People's Democratic Party is a political party of the Indian state of Meghalaya. Its president is H.S. Lyngdoh. Its symbol is a lion....
had also expressed willingness to join the MDA, but their MLAs were not provided to the Governor when the MDA stakes claim to form the Government.
D. D. Lapang (INC) served as the Chairperson of the MDA while Dr. Donkupar Roy
Donkupar Roy
Donkupar Roy is an Indian politician, formerly serving as Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He is the head of the United Democratic Party, a political party recognised in Meghalaya....
(UDP) served as the Deputy Chairperson. Martle Mukhim (MDP) served as the Treasurer and R. G. Lyngdoh (INC) served as the Spokesperson.
Changes in constituents
Though the HPDP legislators were not in the initial list of legislators submitted to the Governor, one of their MLAs Dr. F. A. Khonglam was sworn in as a minister on 4 Mar 2003. Effectively, this meant the MDA had additional support of 2 MLAs from HPDP, taking their total strength in the 60-member Assembly to 42.Later in 2003, one additional independent joined the MDA, taking the total number of independents supporting the MDA to 4, and the total strength of the MDA to 43.
On 16 December 2003, 6 legislators from the opposition NCP broke away from their party and formed a new party called the Meghalaya Nationalist Congress Party (MNCP)
Meghalaya Nationalist Congress Party
Meghalaya Nationalist Congress Party a political party that existed in Meghalaya, India in December 2003. It was formed by Cyprian Sangma on December 15, when six out of 14 Nationalist Congress Party legislators broke away. Four of the six were immediately given cabinet berths in the D.D. Lapang...
. They then joined the MDA coalition increasing the strength of the coalition to 49. 4 of the 6 MNCP legislatures were given ministerial positions in the MDA Government.
Controversies
In mid-2004, after the Indian general election, 2004Indian general election, 2004
Legislative elections were held in India in four phases between April 20 and May 10, 2004. Over 670 million people were eligible to vote, electing 543 members of the 14th Lok Sabha...
, the NCP joined the INC-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
to form the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. It was believed that this decision, might result in the MDA being disbanded with an INC-NCP combination to form the new Government in Meghalaya. However, on 31 May 2004, D. D. Lapang confirmed that the regional MDA coalition would not be affected by the new alliance at the central Government.
In mid-2006, internal conflicts with the Meghalaya Congress Legislative Party (CLP) led to D. D. Lapang resigning as the CLP leader and as the Chief Minister under orders from the Congress high command. His former protege, J. D. Rymbai
J. Dringwell Rymbai
J. Dringwell Rymbai is a politician from Meghalaya, India.Born in a poor family, he had to discontinue education during his graduation. He became an assistant teacher in a government school. He later obtained a graduate degree as well as a degree in education...
was elected new leader of the CLP and Chief Minister on 15 June 2006. Despite the leadership change, the internal conflicts continued with both Lapang and Rymbai claiming majority support in the CLP. After less than a year in-charge, Rymbai was directed by the Congress high command to relinquish the position to Lapang after a secret confidence vote determined that Rymbai no longer had majority support. After refusing to comply with the high command directive for 5 days, Rymbai finally resigned on 10 March 2007. Lapang was reelected as the CLP leader and was sworn in as Chief Minister on 10 March 2008.
Demise of Alliance
In the lead up to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election, 2008Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election, 2008
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election of 2008 took place in a single phase on 3 March 2008 to elect the Members of the Legislative Assembly from each of the 60 Assembly Constituencies in Meghalaya, India...
all the regional parties forming the MDA decided to contest against the INC. The UDP, MDP, KHNAM and HPDP fielded candidates against INC and made corruption and government failure as their main election issues to garner votes against the INC.
This effectively meant the quiet demise of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance after a 5-year survival.
The MDA was effectively replaced by the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) after the 2008 elections as INC tried to form the Government with support from independents.