Shillong, April 20 2010: Mukul Sangma was today sworn in as Meghalaya Chief Minister in the fourth change of guard in two years after a revolt by ruling Congress MLAs forced his predecessor DD Lapang out of the top post.

United Democratic Party leader BM Lanong was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister while his party colleague JA Lyngdoh and Independent AT Mondol also took the oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor RS Mooshahary at the Raj Bhavan.

All the three had held the berths in the previous Lapang Ministry.

The swearing-in came a day after 76-year-old Lapang quit as Chief Minister succumbing to a monthlong revolt by a dissident group of Congress legislators seeking his ouster and Ministerial berths.

Names of other members in the Council of Ministers will be decided after Sangma holds consultations with Congress high command in Delhi where he is likely to fly in, in a day or two.

"The high command will decide the members of the Ministry.

The alliance will however remain undisturbed.

I have received letters of support from UDP, HSPDP and independents," Sangma said.

Lapang was forced out of the top job after he failed to fulfill the demands and aspirations of disgruntled MLAs.

Only six Congress MLAs of the 28 in the 60-member house had found berths in Lapang's Ministry.

Fourteen of the Congress MLAs had on April 7 faxed a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi seeking Lapang's ouster, claiming that he had lost majority in the CLP.

The rebellion by Congress MLAs peaked on April 17 when Sangma and dissident Congress legislators rushed to New Delhi to mount pressure on the party top brass.

The current ruling Congress coalition� Meghalaya United Alliance�sworn in last year after the fall of the NCP-led Government enjoys the support of 44 legislators�28 from Congress, nine from UDP, two from Hill State Peoples Democratic Party, one from Khyun Hynniew-trep National Awakening Movement and four Independents.

The first Chief Minister Captain WA Sangma of the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) and S C Marak, who headed a Congress-led alliance Government in 1993-1997, are the only two who were able to complete their full terms in the 38 year history of the State.

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