Lapang Cabinet sworn in as fire guts Raj Bhavan

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), a five party coalition besides three independents, has a total strength of 42 legislators in a 60-member Assembly. Lapang has accommodated 38 of them in his two tier Ministry and the remaining four will later be absorbed in other capacities.

Former chief minister and Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) legislator F.A. Khonglam was also inducted as Cabinet Minister in the MDA Ministry. Jacob administered the oath of office and secrecy to 28 Cabinet Ministers and 10 Ministers of State.

Of the 22 Congress legislators 14 were accommodated as Cabinet Minister and seven as Ministers of State and of the nine United Democratic Party (UDP), eight were given Cabinet berth. Three of Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) one each from HSPDP, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and an Independent were also inducted as Cabinet Ministers.

Those who were sworn in as junior ministers are all first time legislators except for Congress’ Charles Pyngrope, KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh and Boldness Nongrum who were accommodated as Cabinet Ministers.

The ceremony, however, was interrupted by a huge commotion outside caused by a raging fire which had enveloped the Governor’s Secretariat. No one was hurt as the staff of the Secretariat were at the Durbar Hall.

After the ceremony Lapang justified the size of his Ministry by saying that it was dictated by the stability factor. He said: ‘‘If I don’t accommodate them they might try and destabilised my government. So better give them a ministerial berth and make them work.’’