By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The one-man Cabinet under Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma was expanded on Tuesday with eleven Congress legislators being inducted into the MUA-II Coalition following their swearing-in by Governor RS Mooshahary at Raj Bhavan here.
The Coalition consists of two Deputy Chief Ministers and three women Ministers, besides Dr Sangma and six others.
The three women Ministers who were inducted in the Cabinet were Ampareen Lyngdoh, Deborah C Marak and Roshan Warjri. Ampareen was part of the last MUA Cabinet.
Senior Congress legislator Rowell Lyngdoh retained his position as Deputy Chief Minister while Prof RC Laloo was elevated to the same rank.
Besides Ampareen, Rowell and Prof Laloo, three other Ministers – HDR Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong and AL Hek – retained their Cabinet berths.
Chief Minister’s younger brother, Zenith M Sangma, also found place in the new Ministry.
Two first timers – Clement R Marak and Sniawbhalang Dhar – were also inducted into the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, there was resentment among the NGOs from Ri-Bhoi as none of the legislators from the district were accommodated in the Cabinet.
“We always look to pick a team that is capable of delivering,” Dr Mukul Sangma said while commenting on the resentment on part of the NGOs from Ri-Bhoi.
MPCC president DD Lapang said that the Cabinet list was finalised by the party high command.
“I know that Dr Sangma carried the full list to the party high command. But I am made to believe that the AICC wanted first time MLAs like Umsning legislator Dr Celestine Lyngdoh to wait for their turn,” Lapang said.
On the induction of three women legislators in the Cabinet, Dr Sangma said giving one-fourth representation to women legislators in the Cabinet sends a strong message across the globe.
Despite the Chief Minister maintaining that they have selected the best possible team, there is growing disgruntlement among senior Congress legislators who have been overlooked.
Martin M Danggo, Ronnie V Lyngdoh and Pynshngain N Syiem are among those who missed out on Cabinet berths.
Questions are also being raised about the presence of two Ministers from Jaintia Hills (Prof Laloo and Dhar) where the party won only three seats.
The induction of three Ministers from Shillong (Hek, Ampareen and Warjri) has also raised a few eyebrows.
Apart from the three legislators from Shillong (Urban), East Khasi Hills has two other representations in the Cabinet in the form of HDR Lyngdoh and Prestone Tynsong.
Another district which seems to have benefitted is West Garo Hills which has two Ministers in the Cabinet – Clement Marak from Selsella and Zenith M Sangma from Rangsakona.
Assembly Speaker AT Mondal, who represents Phulbari, is also from West Garo Hills.
South West Garo Hills has one representation in the Cabinet in Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who represents Ampati.
Rowell Lyngdoh, who represents Mawkyrwat, is the lone Minister from South West Khasi Hills.