The MDA Government appears to be a one-man army with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma answering questions on every issue under the Meghalaya sky. Normally the cabinet which comprises 12 ministers, the Chief Minister included should appear to be a collective body where any minister should be able to answer questions upfront to the media. But the task of handling the media has been left to Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma. When Paul Lyngdoh was in the cabinet he answered questions and even appeared to be the unofficial spokesperson of the Government. Paul Lyngdoh is replaced by someone who is not just inarticulate but mumbles his way through a press conference or when questioned by media persons. Article 164(2) of the Indian Constitution establishes the principle of collective responsibility within the state government. This means that all ministers agree to every decision taken. Whether those decisions have actually been arrived at according to the principle of consultation, discussion and exchange of ideas is unclear. When the Chief Minister is way ahead of his cabinet colleagues in terms of understanding the larger implications of most issues, also because he is the one representing Meghalaya in Delhi where he has to negotiate with different ministries, it is obvious that he has to take the final call on every matter that affects the state. We hardly see any other minister negotiating with different ministries of the central government.
Looking at the vast array of departments that the Chief Minister handles which include Cabinet Affairs, Elections, Finance, Forests & Environment, Home (Political), Information Technology and Communication, Mining & Geology, Personnel & A.R., Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development, Programme Implementation & Evaluation and any portfolio not allotted to any other Minister. This means the Chief Minister looks after at least 12 departments. Is it possible for one person to manage so many departments and to do justice to each one of them? True the Chief Minister is assisted by able bureaucrats but the final call on any issue lies on him. Since the Chief Minister is another human, subject to fatigue and overwork it is possible that he might take decisions on crucial issues without being adequately briefed by the bureaucracy because there’s not enough time and the matter demand quick decision-making. What happens if such decisions turn out to be against the interests of the state?
All other ministers have four departments under them and some just three. Obviously they would have more time trying to understand the demands of each department and the series of actions that need to be taken. But even here it is the Chief Minister who has to take a final call. It is the Chief Minister who is now answering queries related to NEHU when this should have been the brief of the Education Minister. The Chief Minister is in charge of Home (Political) Department while Home (Police) is with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, yet when it comes to answering queries related to the HNLC threat to VPP chief, Ardent Basaiawmoit, it is the yet again the Chief Minister who is held answerable. What does this say about the capability, confidence and grasp of issues of the other ministers? Not much to write home about. Incompetence is the hallmark of the majority of Meghalaya’s cabinet members. Hence the Chief Minister remains the sole arbiter for the State and people.
