From CK Nayak
New Delhi: With the re-election of Dr Mukul Sangma as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and hence the next Chief Minister, the focus has now shifted to the next step – formation of the ministry and filling up of two posts – Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
It will, however, be a herculean task for the 46-year-old professional doctor who has managed to ensure a record win for the Congress party which won 29 seats including 14 in Garo Hills itself and decimated Purno A Sangma and his NPP.
Party sources said that while MPCC president DD Lapang is likely to continue in his present position, former Chief Minister Salseng C Marak might be the new Chairman of the Planning Board since UDP’s Donkupar Roy, also a former Chief Minister, is no more with the coalition.
Most members of the previous ministry are likely to continue for a second term. But the newly elected Congress MLAs and the two NCP legislators and Independents who have extended support to the Congress would be expecting their names to figure in the list.
Compared to the last ministry there are only three clear vacancies – two vacated by coalition partner UDP (Bindo Lanong and John Antonius Lyngdoh) and Saleng Sangma who was unceremoniously dropped from the Cabinet.
Announcement of the new Speaker might spring up surprises since Charles Pyngrope has lost from Nongthymmai constituency while NCP president and former Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai emerged victorious from Shillong South constituency.
According to party sources here, most of the Congress ministers will continue but a few have to be dropped to accommodate the new comers some of whom are political veterans.
Interestingly, there are also three strong women contenders who would be eyeing a Cabinet berth. Incumbent Ampareen Lyngdoh would have all the claims since despite allegations against her in the wake of the CBI enquiry report on appointment of teachers she was able to trounce sitting Deputy Chief Minister and former Speaker Bindo M Lanong.
MPCC working president Deborah Marak is also a strong contender for a Cabinet berth. However, her case is weakened since she was earlier the Deputy Chief Minister. It would be difficult for her to become Deputy Chief Minister again since the Chief Minister also hails from Garo Hills.
Rowel Lyngdoh, who was Deputy Chief Minister in the earlier Cabinet, is likely to continue in the ministry and in the absence of the UDP there may not be a second Deputy Chief Minister this time. Roshan Warjri, who has made a comeback to the House, is also a strong contender being a senior leader in her own right.
Most of the other ministers – Prestone Tynsong, AL Hek, AT Mondal, Prof RC Laloo and HDR Lyngdoh – are likely to continue. But the NCP with two MLAs will demand ‘its pound of flesh’ for which Shullai might have to accommodate in the Cabinet.
Considering the crucial role of the Speaker, especially the rigid stand taken by Bindo Lanong during the earlier crisis, a senior but dependable leader from within the Congress will ultimately occupy that crucial post, the sources said. Martin M Danggo, who was a Speaker and Cabinet minister earlier, will now want the latter role.
Youth leader and Mukul’s brother, Zenith Sangma, who was earlier a minister, Chief Whip Ronnie V Lyngdoh and a half a dozen others, will also vie for the three vacant slots.
The party also has to see proper regional and ethnic representations in the new ministry but Mukul is known for riding over the crisis since he managed to lead the government for three years despite having dropped then KHNAM leader Paul Lyngdoh, HSPDP supremo Hoping Stone Lyngdoh and dismissing four from his own party.