Shilong, Jul 27: BJP legislator from South Shillong, Sanbor Shullai has replaced his party colleague A. L. Hek in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Cabinet on Tuesday.
Shullai was sworn-in by Meghalaya Governor, Satya Pal Malik in a brief ceremony on Tuesday evening at the Raj Bhavan.
The reshuffling caught everyone by surprise, since there were no indications till Monday night that it was on the cards.
Those present in the swearing in ceremony were – Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Power Minister James Sangma amongst others.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing in ceremony, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that Hek was replaced by Shullai after a letter was sent by Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie to the Chief Minister.
Sangma had admitted that in 2018, when the government was being formed, the two BJP legislators had an agreement to share the post of Minister equally in the five years.
The Chief Minister said that the arrangement was made in the presence of central BJP leaders – like Alphonse Kannanthanam, Nalin Kohli and the then state unit president Shibun Lyngdoh and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
This is the second reshuffle in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Cabinet. Last year Renikton Tongkhar of the HSPDP replaced his party colleague Samlin Malngiang, while from the National People’s Party Dasakhiatbha Lamare took over from Comingone Ymbon.
