Suspense over 12th man in Mukul’s Cabinet prolonged
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The suspense over whether or not the whimsical Umroi legislator Stanley Wiss Rymbai will join the Mukul Sangma-led MUA Government continues. It is also not clear whether the Chief Minister will look for another alternative to fill the vacant post.
At this rate it appears that identity of the 12th man remains a matter of conjecture thereby raising aspirations among other Congress MLAs. On Friday the maverick Rymbai took a flight to Kolkata ostensibly for medical treatment.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Friday, Stanley Wiss Rymbai said, “I am going to Kolkata for my medical treatment and once I return everything will be finalised.”
Rymbai said he would meet Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to further discuss his inclusion in the State Cabinet once he returns from Kolkata.
Earlier, Rymbai gave a miss to the swearing-in ceremony, claiming ill health, when he was all set to be inducted into the State Cabinet.
Sources close to Rymbai however claimed that he was forcefully obstructed from attending the swearing in by a group of supporters who wanted him to remain in the anti-Mukul camp, at the time when efforts were on to topple the Dr Sangma-led MUA Government. It was also reported that Rymbai was initially reluctant to join the Cabinet as he was uncertain of the future given the political rumblings in the party. The Umroi legislator, however, sounded confident that he would remain in the Mukul Sangma camp. When asked which department he would like to take over, if he becomes the twelfth minister, the legislator replied, “I depend on the goodwill of the Chief Minister and we will work together.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister on Friday distanced himself from the Rymbai issue and sparred off questions relating to the contentious 12th member in the Cabinet. When journalists quizzed him on the issue after the meeting of the Budget Committee of the Assembly here, Dr Sangma shot back saying, “This is not the proper forum to discuss the matter? Dr Sangma has been able to induct only three new faces – Shitlang Pale, AL Hek and Saleng A Sangma in place of the four Congress ministers – Prestone Tynsong, Founder S Cajee, Augustine D Marak and FW Momin who were dropped from the Cabinet. Prior to the swearing-in ceremony (on June 6), Dr Sangma had recommended the name of Congress legislator from Umroi Stanley Wiss Rymbai along with that of Pale, Hek and Saleng to the Governor to be part of his ministry. However to the embarrassment of the Chief Minister, Rymbai skipped the swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on June 7 citing health reasons. Till date, the 12th post in the Cabinet is lying vacant. It could be anybody’s game now that Rymbai appears to have missed the bus.