Is Danggo set for Cabinet berth?

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: Is former Speaker Martin M Danggo emerging as the frontrunner for the vacant 12th slot in Dr Mukul Sangma-led Cabinet?

There are indications that Danggo who belonged to the dissident group, may have changed his stance.

Ending a long period of “cold war” with the Chief Minister, Danggo was present at the inauguration of the new terminal building of Shillong Airport at Umroi on Saturday. This has fuelled speculation in political circles.

The Congress legislator who represents Langrin constituency all this while was a part of the dissident group who was demanding the ouster of Dr Sangma.

All this time, Danggo was among the many dissident legislators who chose to be absent from party meetings, and more especially the functions where the Chief Minister would be present.

It is learnt that the senior Congress legislator recently went on a free holiday trip to Thailand which was sponsored by the dissident group.

The idea was to ensure that Danggo was out of reach of the loyalists of Dr Sangma.

However, Danggo was the only legislator among the dissident group to attend the terminal inauguration.

Not only this, the absence of local Umroi legislator Stanly Wiss Rymbai also gives strong indication that he is no longer the frontrunner for the 12th man in the Cabinet.

Even though Rymbai maintained that he had gone to Kolkata for his treatment, he has contradicted his own statement since he earlier said he had fully recovered from the illness.

He also said he was ready to be sworn in as and when the Chief Minister decides.

Earlier, it was reported that Dr Sangma had set Rymbai the deadline of June 23 to decide whether or not he wanted to join the Cabinet.

It now appears Rymbai has made up his mind not to desert Lapang who had a major hand in the Umroi legislator’s victory in 2009 elections.

Danggo was not available immediately for comments as his mobile was found switched off.

Besides the former Speaker, the Congress legislators who attended the Umroi function are the five Cabinet ministers — Ampareen Lyngdoh, HDR Lyngdoh, Shitlang Pale, AL Hek and AT Mondal.

UK tourist swept away

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: A British tourist, Christina Read (25), was swept away after she fell into Wah Umkynsan in Nohriat, Sohra on Saturday. She along with her husband, Anthony Lewis, went to the tourist spot for sightseeing, police said. She remained untraced till filing of this report.