Finally, the relentless effort of former Lok Sabha speaker P. A. Sangma to oust E. K. Mowlong from power paid off. Dr. Flinder Anderson Khonglam, the leader of the Peoples Forum of Meghalaya (PFM) has become the new Chief Minister of the State. He was sworn in as Chief Minister by Acting Meghalaya Governor Arvind Dave.  Dr. Khonglam, a former NCP minister in the Mawlong ministry and a loyalist of the party’s national general secretary P. A. Sangma, was elected the leader of the PFM earlier, when the 42-member new platform was formed.

 Mr. Mowlong’s coalition government was defeated in a voice vote in the 60-member Assembly. He later sent his resignation to the Governor. The Mowlong Government was in trouble for quite some time. The Mawlong Government was reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by several key coalition partners including the NCP, BJP, PDM, besides a faction of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to which Mowlong belongs. T H Rangad, former home minister, resigned in protest against the Kolkata Meghalaya House scam. BJP legislator A. L. Hek also resigned as the Art and Culture Minister in the Mowlong Cabinet. They demanded the resignation of  the Chief Minister over the controversial deal. Another BJP MLA N. N. Simchang too resigned from the chairmanship of the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation.

 Though finally he had to go, Mr. Mowlong kept his detractors at bay for quite a long time. He used all tactics and methods to stick to power. Mr. Mowlong accepted defeat only when his government was voted out by voice vote in the State Assembly. The motion of no-confidence against the his Ministry was moved by Congress member R. G. Lyngdoh. The PFM comprises members of the NCP, HSPDP, PDM, the newly formed MUDP and some other independent MLAs

 Later after winning the confidence vote, the new Chief Minister rewarded legislators of constituents of the new forum. The Chief Minister, who has given Cabinet berths to 29 and Minister of State ranks to eight, kept with himself Cabinet Affairs, Political and other departments were not allotted to any Minister. Deputy Chief  Minister and leader of the Congress Legislature Party D. D. Lapang was given Planning, Revenue and Administrative Reforms. The Congress with 16 legislators has been given 10 Cabinet berths and will have two Ministers of State.