Lyngdoh had resigned as head of United Parliamentary Forum (UPF) ministry following ‘‘internal bickerings on July 27, but swung back to power the same evening as head of the new formation comprising his United Democratic Party and the Congress.

The voice vote was taken in a one day special session, called by Governor M M Jacob to enable the MPF ministry to prove its majority.

In the 60-member assembly MPF has a strength of 49 MLAs with the United Democratic Party having 20 members, and the Congress 25. The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), which has three legislators, and an independent have extended support to the present government.

The entire Opposition -- the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), Garo National Council (GNC), independents, and the BJP -- staged a walk out after making speeches.

During the discussionon the confidence vote, Deputy Chief Minister, D D Lapang, said the Congress and the regional party (UDP) had to come together, forgetting their political differences to serve the state.

A H Scott Lyngdoh (UDP) said that the United Democratic Party-Congress alignment was an outcome of too much pressure from constituents of the earlier combine in which the government was unable to function.

Clifford Marak (Garo National Council) criticised the Speaker, E K Mawlong, stating that the duration of the special session was too short.

Marak also criticised the governors action of swearing-in the Lyngdoh ministry ‘‘in a hurry.

T H Rangad (BJP) expressed fear that the present government might halt the CBI inquiry into the financial irregularities in various government departments.

Rangad termed the present government as ‘‘a cracking and sinking Titanic and said that he would take up the matter with the Centre.

Earlier, Mawlong rejected complaints by Opposition members that the notice for the special sessionof the State Assembly was too short.