SHILLONG: Senior NPP leader Prestone Tynsong, who was sworn in as a Cabinet minister soon after Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took oath on Tuesday, said the choice of chief minister was not in human hands.
Tynsong was to be appointed as the chief minister but the condition that UDP put forth for extending support to NPP was that Conrad should head the government.
However, former HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit wanted Prestone to lead the government.
Though Prestone was not made the chief minister, he said he was happy that the Congress-led MUA-II government is out. “Conrad never thought that he would be made the chief minister and it is the plan of God,” Prestone said.
When asked, Conrad’s sister and South Tura legislator Agatha Sangma said acceptability was a factor when it came to the leadership issue.
“In fact, Conrad did not want to become chief minister, but he was requested to take up the role,” Agatha said.
She added that NPP did not clearly project Prestone and added that if there was such a decision, Prestone would have definitely been made the chief minister.
Agatha said there was an understanding that whichever region gets the maximum MLAs, the post of chief minister will go to someone from that region. NPP got 11 seats in Garo Hills and the remaining eight in Khasi Hills.
Earlier, Conrad admitted that he was not prepared to take up the post.
