Shillong, Sep 13 (IANS): The ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government today exuded confidence over facing Wednesday's no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
"We are ready to face it (the no-confidence motion) and the coalition partners have assured us of their support during the motion," Congress Legislature Party secretary Ronnie V. Lyngdoh told IANS.
Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope fixed Wednesday for debating the no-confidence motion.
Lyngdoh said the Congress has issued a three-line party whip to all party legislators, asking them to be present in the assembly when the motion is taken up.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma held an emergent MUA parliamentary meeting Monday night to discuss how to counter the NCP-sponsored move. "We have no reasons to say no to your no-confidence and we will face it and the government is not afraid of it," Mukul said.
Leader of Opposition Conrad K. Sangma said the no-confidence motion was warranted since the government has failed on all development fronts, including maintaining law and order and continuous financial crisis.
The move has been supported by the entire opposition, barring independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri and suspended NCP legislator Adolf Lu Hitler R. Marak.
"Our intention is not to topple this government and we don't even have the numbers, but the no-confidence motion will highlight the various lapses of the government," Conrad said.
The Congress, which has 28 legislators, enjoys the support of nine United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators, two of the Hill State People's Democratic Party, four independents and one Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement member. The NCP has 15 members in the 60-seat Assembly.
