By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Congress legislator from Ranikor, Martin M Danggo’s chances of getting a Cabinet berth was spoiled by the fact that Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh, who was elected from Mawkyrwat constituency, also hails from the same South West Khasi Hills District.
Similarly, Mylliem legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh, who had also aspired for a Cabinet berth, saw his dreams shattered since there were many Cabinet aspirants from East Khasi Hills District.
The Cabinet ministers from East Khasi Hills in the present Ministry include AL Hek, Ampareen Lyngdoh and Roshan Warjri (all from Shillong urban constituencies), besides HDR Lyngdoh and Prestone Tynsong.
Moreover, Limison Sangma, the then Independent legislator, who was instrumental in the formation of a Congress-led Government in 2009 toppling the UDP-led MPA coalition, was also not given a Cabinet berth despite having been a Minister in 2009.
These legislators did not lobby hard for the Cabinet berths, which was also a reason for Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to focus his attention to address the concerns of others who were pressuring him for Cabinet berths, sources said.
Though there are murmurs about Dr Mukul Sangma’s brother Zenith Sangma and the former’s close associate Clement Marak getting Cabinet berths, the legislators who have been deprived of Cabinet berths do not want to speak out anything openly as they say that it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister.
While the four-time legislator Danggo was deprived of a Cabinet berth, the former BJP leader AL Hek, who contested and won the election on a Congress ticket for the first time in the just concluded Assembly election, was accommodated in the Ministry and rewarded with plum portfolios.
Danggo has been appointed as the Chairman of the State Level Public Grievance Committee, while Ronnie was appointed the Government Chief Whip.
Former Minister Limison was demoted to the post of a Parliamentary Secretary.
Though the Chief Minister indicated that there can be rotation of ministers, the Congress legislators who are currently not in the Ministry, believe that the ‘rotation policy’ is unlikely to be implemented during the current term.