Fourth Lapang ministry

The Fourth Lapang ministry was the short-lived minority government and the 19th council of ministers of the Indian state of Meghalaya headed by Chief Minister D. D. Lapang who was re-appointed as chief minister for a consecutive second term on 11 March 2008 despite his party, the Indian National Congress failing to secure a majority in the state election held earlier in the month.^[1] However, within days of his re-appointment, on 18 March 2008, ahead of a vote of no-confidence in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, chief minister Lapang tendered his resignation.^[2]

The state assembly election held in March 2008 resulted in no single political party securing a majority. The ruling Indian National Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 25 seats followed by the Nationalist Congress Party with 14 seats and the United Democratic Party with 11 seats. Governor Shivinder Singh Sidhu re-appointed D. D. Lapang as the chief minister despite the Congress not having a majority in the legislature.^[3]

However, on 18 March 2008, ahead of a vote of no-confidence in the legislature, Lapang chose to resign. He was replaced by Donkupar Roy of the United Democratic Party who formed the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance coalition along with the other non-Congress parties and formed the government.

The cabinet consisted of the chief minister, deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma, four cabinet ministers, and two ministers of state. Among the eight ministers, five belonged to the Indian National Congress and three were independent legislators. The cabinet ministers were Martin Danggo, Prestone Tynsong, Roytre Christopher Laloo, and Abu Taher Mondal. The ministers of state were Ismail R. Marak and Limison D. Sangma who were also assigned with independent portfolios.

Source: ^[4]