New Meghalaya CM initiates end of post largesse

Earlier,Sangma,45,was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya by Governor R S Mooshahary at Raj Bhavan.

Three Cabinet ministers — Bindo M Lanong,A T Mondal and J A Lyngdoh — were also administered the oath of office and secrecy by Mooshahary. In a 12-member Cabinet,eight more ministers will be inducted later. Lanong and Lyngdoh are from the United Democratic Party (UDP),which was a coalition partner of the Congress in the last Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government headed by D D Lapang,and Mondal is an Independent who has supported the Congress since the 2008 Assembly polls.

Sangma said the eight Cabinet ministers would be sworn in after consultation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Besides Lanong,Lyngdoh and Mondal,two other Independent legislators,Limison Sangma and Ismail R Marak,and the lone Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) legislator Paul Lyngdoh were ministers in the Lapang-led coalition government. However,these three non-Congress legislators might not find berths in the new ministry.

Sangma told reporters that the focus of his government would be youth and economic progress of the poor and downtrodden. Talking about the political instability that catapulted him to the CM’s post,he said: “I am concerned about Meghalaya’s political instability.”

In its 38 years of statehood,this is the 23rd government in Meghalaya. Sangma is the fourth Chief Minister from the Garo Hills after Capt W A Sangma,Salseng Marak and P A Sangma.

In an apparent reference to the bitter political rivalry prevalent in the state,Sangma said,“We cannot afford to remain divided by small identities and petty rivalries and must resolve to work together and not let the past come in

between our shared goal of giving Meghalaya a golden future.” (With PTI)