SHILLONG, March 9: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said that the BJP and HSPDP legislators have agreed to share the Cabinet berth between them for two-and-a-half years each.
He told reporters that he was present during the discussion on sharing the term between the MLAs of the two parties.
“So far, only the BJP has written to me that its two MLAs will share the Cabinet berth. I am yet to receive anything in writing from the HSPDP,” Sangma said.
HSPDP minister, Shakliar Warjri confirmed that he will be sharing the berth with his fellow party MLA, Methodius Dkhar.
Earlier, in a letter addressed to Sangma, also the NPP chief, state BJP president Ernest Mawrie requested the former to consider the central leaders’ decision to allow equal sharing of ministerial berths by the party’s two MLAs, Alexander Laloo Hek and Sanbor Shullai.
According to the agreement, Shullai will take over from Hek after August 7, 2025, and continue till the end of the current government’s term, Mawrie said.
Sangma said the UDP has not communicated anything regarding a similar arrangement for its MLAs.
“This is of course an internal matter of the party. They have not mentioned to me anything on the Cabinet berth sharing among the UDP legislators,” the chief minister said.
He hinted at more MLAs from the NPP getting a shot at holding ministerial posts.
“We may have to make certain adjustments. We will explore the option of accommodating more of our MLAs in the Cabinet,” he said.
Sangma insisted the alliance tried to balance things out by providing four Cabinet berths to MLAs from the Garo Hills and eight to those from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
On Garo Hills getting more representation, he said: “Everybody has the desire to represent the district and region. It is not always possible due to the limitations,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we want everything in the best interest of the state,” he added.
UDP undecided on seat-sharing
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said that the party has not taken any decision on the sharing of the cabinet berths among its MLAs.
“We have entrusted our MLAs — Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla — to represent our party in the Conrad K. Sangma-led Cabinet. We want them to perform to the best of their abilities,” Lyngdoh told The Shillong Times here on Thursday.
He said seat-sharing will depend on the need to replace either of them in the Cabinet. “But as of now, we will allow both of them to continue,” he said.
