SHILLONG, Feb 9: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has ruled out any cabinet reshuffle to accommodate five Congress MLAs and said the government will discuss their responsibilities.
In a dramatic political turn, the five Congress MLAs – without any approval from the MPCC or AICC – decided to support the NPP-led MDA government that has the BJP as its partner.
Prior to joining the alliance, the Congress MLAs were very vocal against the government and had slammed the MDA over issues of illegal coal mining, scams and law-and-order situation. They are not expected to be vocal after joining the MDA bandwagon that has all the political parties except for the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
The five MLAs — Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mohendro Rapsang, PT Sawkmie, Mayralborn Syiem and Kimfa Marbaniang — submitted their letter of support to the chief minister on Tuesday, expressing their desire to work with the MDA government.
Sangma said he would call the BJP to settle any resentment arising with the coalition partner after the Congress Legislature Party extended its support to the MDA.
“We have to understand they have extended support to the government and on issues that are important to the state. This will not affect the relationship with and the commitment given to the different coalition partners,” he said while reacting to a question on the BJP’s unhappiness with the Congress supporting the alliance.
The chief minister said the development can be taken positively as the important issues of the state can be addressed by all political parties together. “I will call them (BJP) for discussions and we will try to resolve it,” he added.
Asked if the Congress would be a burden on the government, he said: “It comes with challenges but there are advantages too. But the message of unity it gives has more pluses than minuses.”
The unity would be good for issues such as border disputes and the peace talks with the HNLC, he said.
Will the AITC also be included in the government? “It is up to them. Let them write and we will see,” he said.
