Our Bureau
SHILLONG, Sep 15: The highly anticipated reshuffle of the state cabinet will take place on Tuesday, with the swearing-in of new ministers scheduled at the Raj Bhavan at 5 pm.
As many as eight ministers are set to make their way out.
Sources said Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar at around 4 pm on Monday and submitted the list of MLAs who will be inducted into the cabinet.
According to reports, four from the National People’s Party (NPP) will be dropped—Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma, and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Comingone Ymbon.
Their likely replacements are Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun (in place of Ampareen), Resubelpara MLA and former Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira (replacing Rakkam), Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla (replacing Comingone), and Dalu MLA Brening A. Sangma (replacing Mondal).
In the United Democratic Party (UDP), Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla will step down, making way for party president and Mairang MLA Metbah Lyngdoh, and Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui. The decision was taken during a meeting of the party on Monday.
In the BJP, senior leader Alexander L. Hek will be replaced by South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai. The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) minister Shakliar Warjri is set to be replaced by Mawshynrut MLA Methodius Dkhar.
The BJP and the HSPDP have two MLAs each.
Interestingly, although the reshuffle will take place on Tuesday, BJP state president Rikman G. Momin said he had not received any official communication from the chief minister.
While there is a lot of buzz surrounding the reshuffle, the possible names of cabinet ministers who are likely to be dropped has shocked political experts as well as insiders in the government.
Some experts, after looking at the possible names who will be replaced, said it indicates that the whole idea of the NPP to get more and more numbers for the alliance has backfired.
All this while, the NPP was least bothered about any political ramifications and the party was installing leaders and MLAs right and left to make the alliance stronger than before. The NPP was so confident that it had even mooted the idea of an Opposition-less Assembly.
The NPP took the support of every single party, which offered to work in the alliance, despite being in a comfortable position. Later, it continued to strengthen itself as the Congress was wiped out.
However, the experts said, as time came for cabinet reshuffle, the chief minister was under tremendous pressure to accommodate many MLAs. He also faced pressure not to offend the senior cabinet ministers who are likely to be replaced. Initial plan to drop minister Marcuise N. Marak was changed later.
One of the cabinet ministers, who is likely to be dropped, said wishing not to be named that they are not aware if they are going to be replaced. The minister said they heard about their replacements only through the media.
Apart from the NPP, all major parties in the MDA alliance held their meetings to take a final call on the matter. It was learnt the UDP held a meeting with all its MLAs, including two of its cabinet ministers Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla.
Shylla said it is the prerogative of the party president to take a call and he would abide by any decision.
