SHILLONG, March 12: Conrad Sangma’s second avatar as chief minister, still in its nascent stage, is already appearing to be significantly different from the first one.
From the decisive manner of making a swift move for forming the government to the distribution of portfolios, he has been more authoritative and mindful in protecting his own political turf.
With 26 MLAs solidly behind him, coupled with unqualified patronage from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is on a political high like never before.
The pattern of cabinet formation bears the stamp of his newfound authoritativeness.
First, he created an additional post of Deputy Chief Minister for his senior party colleague from Jaintia Hills, Sniawbhalang Dhar, rather than offering it to UDP which is the second largest partner.
By taking eight of the 12 cabinet berths, Conrad Sangma made another statement of his current upbeat thought process.
An NPP insider said that Conrad is determined to take the state to a new high in the next five years and, in the process, make sure that his party secures a comfortable majority in the 12th Assembly and not be at the mercy of other parties.
According to the party man, the portfolio distribution is a clear indication of the CM’s priorities. By keeping all the major portfolios with NPP ministers, he is ensuring that NPP calls the shot for the full term.
NPP ministers, it is recalled, have amongst themselves key cutting-edge portfolios like Finance, Home, PWD (both roads and buildings), PHE, Power, Health, Urban Affairs, Community & Rural Development, Forest, IT, Commerce and Industries, Transport, Agriculture, and Law.
The chief minister has left at the disposal of three coalition partners — BJP, UDP, and HSPDP — relatively less important portfolios like Tourism, Arts & Culture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Fisheries, Textiles, Printing & Stationery, Social Welfare, Excise, Revenue, Labour, Sports & Youth Affairs among others.
Informed sources said that Conrad took these hard decisions without consulting the partners.
Explaining this virtual “take it or leave it” attitude of NPP, the party man said Conrad is piqued by MDA partners’ “double face” during the recent electioneering. “They (MDA partners) happily enjoyed power with NPP and conveniently let loose their guns on the party during the election,” he said, adding that Conrad Sangma will not easily get over it.
Observers say that Conrad’s toughened appearance has silenced the partners who have taken it without any murmur.
