SHILLONG, March 6: National People’s Party (NPP) national president and CM-designate Conrad K Sangma on Monday announced that the new alliance forming the government will be named Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2.0 under which the lion’s share of eight cabinet berths will go to the NPP, two to the UDP and one each to BJP and HSPDP.
“From the 12 cabinet berths, four, including the chief minister, will be from the Garo Hills region and eight from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region,” Conrad said.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the allies in the MDA 2.0 in the state capital on Monday.
“During the meeting, it was decided that the alliance will be known as Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0; the partners are the same and the Chief Minister will be the chairman of the alliance,” Conrad said.
Besides Conrad, the list of Cabinet ministers includes the names of Deputy CM-designate Prestone Tynsong, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Comingone Ymbon, Marcuise Marak, Abu Taher Mondal and Rakkam A Sangma (all from NPP).
West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh and Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla will be the UDP representatives in the Cabinet.
BJP MLA AL Hek and HSPDP MLA Shakliar Warjri will round up the Cabinet berths.
There will be no representation from the PDF or Independents in the new ministry.
Meanwhile, sources said that a resolution was passed by the NPP to nominate North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma as the party candidate for the post of the Speaker.
Seat sharing among BJP, HSPDP & UDP MLAs
BJP’s AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai have reached an understanding to share the cabinet berth for two and a half years each with the former starting first.
State BJP president Ernest Mawrie confirmed this on Monday and said the seat sharing decision was as per the direction of the central leaders.
It may be noted that during the tenure of the previous government, Hek was inducted into the Cabinet in 2018 but was ‘unceremoniously’ removed in July 2021, to accommodate Shullai.
The HSPDP also adopted the same policy as the BJP whereby its two MLAs — Shakliar Warjri and Methodius Dkhar — will share the Cabinet berth for two and half years each, with the former being accommodated first.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang said on Monday that both MLAs have agreed to share the Cabinet berth.
He said the party will write to CM-designate Conrad K Sangma informing him of the agreement between the two MLAs.
“The agreement is not a verbal one. We have prepared some kind of ‘contract’ to ensure that the two MLAs abide by the agreement,” Pangniang added.
Meanwhile, sources said a similar strategy will be adopted by the UDP.
“The party is yet to finalise the nitty-gritty of this seat sharing exercise among the MLAs,” the sources added.