No plans to make changes in Cabinet: UDP

SHILLONG: United Democratic Party (UDP), a major ally in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, has made it clear that it has no plans to effect any changes in the state Cabinet.
UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday said the party was yet to discuss if it would nominate new faces in the National People’s Party (NPP)-led MDA coalition government in the state.
“Two MLAs of the party, Lahkmen Rymbui and H. Brolding Nongsiej, will continue to represent the party in the Cabinet,” Lyngdoh replied, when asked if the UDP planned to induct a new face with chief minister, Conrad K Sangma likely to effect a Cabinet reshuffle with the MDA government completing two and half years in office on Monday last.
The state BJP, for its part, is awaiting necessary orders from its central leadership as far as effecting a reshuffle in the state Cabinet is concerned.
On the performance of the MDA government so far, Lyngdoh said the NPP-led government has performed outstandingly well during these two and half years. “We know that the journey is not a smooth one especially with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong had maintained that “no reshuffling of the state Cabinet was on the cards.”
There were unconfirmed reports that a reshuffle in the Cabinet might take place, with the MDA government nearing completion of two and half years.
Meanwhile, Tynsong said that the decision to effect a Cabinet reshuffle “lies at the wisdom of the chief minister”.