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Meghalaya CM inducts new ministers after dropping two amid rumours of rift in ruling Cong
Chief minister Mukul Sangma says the reshuffle was needed to put to rest talks of disunity within the ruling party.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma reshuffled his cabinet on Friday by inducting two new faces, a day after dropping two ministers ahead of the next year’s assembly polls.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered oath of office and secrecy to Celestine Lyngdoh and Comingone Ymbon at a brief ceremony in the Shillong Raj Bhawan.
On Thursday Sangma had dropped Public Health Engineering (PHE) minister Preston Tynsong and power and community & rural development (C&RD) minister Sniawbhalang Dhar from his Congress government amid speculations that the CM was unhappy with their ‘anti-party’ activities.
The CM has not yet allocated portfolios to the newly inducted ministers.
News reports say seven ruling Congress MLAs, including some ministers, have sought an appointment with Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah who will be visiting Meghalaya later this month.
Congress sources say some 3-4 party MLAs could join BJP ahead of the polls. There is also speculation that a few party leaders could switch sides to opposition National People’s Party—which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre.
Talking to media persons after Friday’s swearing in, Sangma however denied the rumours and said the reshuffle was a routine affair and it was needed to put to rest talks of disunity within the government and the party.
“There should be more such reshuffles. We need to create space for everyone so that we are able to serve the people better,” he said.
This is the second cabinet reshuffle since Sangma assumed office in 2013.
Meghalaya is expected to go to polls in February-March next year.
