Shillong, Sept 15: Meghalaya witnessed a major political development following the four-day Autumn Session of the Legislative Assembly, as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced a significant cabinet reshuffle — the first since the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-II) government completed two and a half years in office.
The shake-up came just days after Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira resigned on September 10, tendering his resignation to Speaker Thomas A. Sangma.
The MDA-II government, led by the National People’s Party (NPP) with 33 MLAs, enjoys the support of the United Democratic Party (UDP) (6), the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) (2), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (2).
As part of the reshuffle, eight ministers were dropped from the cabinet, including senior faces from across coalition partners:
NPP: Rakkam A. Sangma (Education), Comingone Ymbon (Food & Civil Supplies), Ampareen Lyngdoh (Health), Marcuise N. Marak (PHE), Abu Taher Mondal (Power)
UDP: Paul Lyngdoh (Social Welfare), Kyrmen Shylla (Revenue & Disaster Management)
HSPDP: Shakliar Warjri (Sports)
BJP: A.L. Hek (Animal Husbandry & Veterinary)
The newly inducted ministers are:
NPP: Wailadmiki Shylla (Jowai), Sosthenes Sohtun (Jirang), Brening A. Sangma (Dalu), Timothy D. Shira (Resubelpara)
UDP: Metbah Lyngdoh (Mairang), Lahkmen Rymbui (Amlarem)
HSPDP: Methodius Dkhar (Mawshynrut)
BJP: Sanbor Shullai (South Shillong)
Party insiders confirmed that UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh, who currently chairs the State Planning Board, and legislator Lahkmen Rymbui will replace outgoing ministers Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has submitted the list of new ministers to Governor C.H. Vijayashankar, who will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed cabinet members at 5 PM on Tuesday at Raj Bhavan.
Political observers view this reshuffle as a strategic move by the MDA government to reinvigorate its cabinet ahead of key policy decisions and to maintain coalition stability.
