Meghalaya Progressive Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) was the ruling coalition
of political parties that formed the Government
in the state of Meghalaya
, India from 2008 to 2009. It was led by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
and the United Democratic Party (UDP)
who are the second and third largest parties in the 8th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
. Chief Minister Dr. Donkupar Roy
and the other ministers in the Government belong to the MPA.
when it emerged that the Indian National Congress (INC)
did not have sufficient Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to form the Government. All the non-INC parties in the state decided to join hands and formed the MPA in a bid to keep the INC out of power in Meghalaya.
After the elections, the Governor S. S. Sidhu
invited the INC-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) under the leadership of D. D. Lapang
to form the Government by virtue of being the largest party in the Assembly. The MPA claimed that this move by the Governor was unconstitutional since the MUA did not have sufficient majority in the Assembly. The MUA was given 10 days to prove its majority in the Assembly. As the confidence vote approached, D. D. Lapang resigned and the MPA was given the chance to form the Government.
The MPA Government headed by Dr. Donkupar Roy was sworn in by Governor Sidhu on 19 March 2008 with the support of 31 members in the 60 member Assembly.
The MPA have pledged to provide top priority to ensuring tranparency in governance and have prepared a common minimum program that reflects promises made by each of the constituent parties in their respective poll manifestoes.
Despite being the largest party, the NCP gave up the Chief Minister post to UDP in order to achieve stability in the Government. There are also some reports of a power-sharing agreement between the UDP and NCP to share the Chief Minister position for two and a half years each.
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 from 2008 to 2009. It was led by 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:...
and the 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....
who are the second and third largest parties in the 8th 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 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....
and the other ministers in the Government belong to the MPA.
History
The MPA was formed soon after 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...
when it emerged that the Indian National Congress (INC)
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...
did not have sufficient Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to form the Government. All the non-INC parties in the state decided to join hands and formed the MPA in a bid to keep the INC out of power in Meghalaya.
After the elections, the Governor S. S. Sidhu
Shivinder Singh Sidhu
Shivinder Singh Sidhu is an Indian political figure, currently serving as Governor of Goa.He was earlier an IAS officer of 1952 batch belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. While in the state, he served as the District Magistrate of Kanpur and subsequently as Commissioner of Agra Division...
invited the INC-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) under the leadership of 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....
to form the Government by virtue of being the largest party in the Assembly. The MPA claimed that this move by the Governor was unconstitutional since the MUA did not have sufficient majority in the Assembly. The MUA was given 10 days to prove its majority in the Assembly. As the confidence vote approached, D. D. Lapang resigned and the MPA was given the chance to form the Government.
The MPA Government headed by Dr. Donkupar Roy was sworn in by Governor Sidhu on 19 March 2008 with the support of 31 members in the 60 member Assembly.
The MPA have pledged to provide top priority to ensuring tranparency in governance and have prepared a common minimum program that reflects promises made by each of the constituent parties in their respective poll manifestoes.
Initial Support
At the time of formation, the MPA included the following members:- Nationalist Congress Party(NCP)Nationalist Congress PartyThe Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
(14 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....
(11 MLAs) - Hill State People's Democratic Party (HPDP)Hill State People's Democratic PartyThe 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....
(2 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...
(1 MLA) - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)Bharatiya Janata PartyThe 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...
(1 MLA) - 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...
(2 MLAs)
Despite being the largest party, the NCP gave up the Chief Minister post to UDP in order to achieve stability in the Government. There are also some reports of a power-sharing agreement between the UDP and NCP to share the Chief Minister position for two and a half years each.