Cong Cabinet Ministers likely to retain berth

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: All the sitting Cabinet Ministers including Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Prof RC Laloo and AL Hek are likely to retain their Cabinet berths, sources from the Congress said on Sunday.

However, it is unlikely that the Independents and NCP members, who had offered unconditional support to the Congress, will get place in the 12-member Cabinet.

Party sources also revealed that senior Congress legislator from Williamnagar, Deborah C Marak, is unlikely to be considered for a ministerial berth as there are indications that North Shillong Congress legislator, Roshan Warjri, could be the second woman legislator to be accommodated in the Cabinet.

Congress sources, however, said that it would be interesting to see if AICC president Sonia Gandhi agrees to the proposal to give Marak a miss in the Cabinet.

“The AICC president could stick to the formula that there should be one woman minister from Khasi-Jaintia Hills and one from Garo Hills,” Congress sources said.

Meanwhile, sources also informed that Congress legislator Abu Taher Mondal is tipped to become the new Assembly Speaker.

“There is a consensus among the party leadership that Mondal is best possible option for the Assembly Speaker’s post and the party leadership is still trying to convince the Phulbari legislator to accept the offer,” sources said.

Unconfirmed sources also indicate that the name of Ranikor Congress legislator, MM Danggo has also been projected as a potential contender for the post of Speaker even as Mylliem legislator Ronnie Lyngdoh is aspiring for the post.

“If Mondal agrees to the offer, then in all likelihood, the Mylliem legislator Lyngdoh would become the Deputy Speaker,” party sources added here on Sunday.