SHILLONG, March 6 — Differences within the newly-formed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by Chief Minister DD Lapang cropped up immediately after the allocation of portfolios Wednesday evening. There is considerable resentment among the ranks of the United Democratic Party (UDP) which is the second largest party in the new coalition with nine members after the Congress which has a solid chunk of 22. UDP president and former Chief Minister AK Mawlong is reported to have expressed dissatisfaction over the issue at a meeting with Pradesh Congress chief Salseng C Marak here Wednesday.
UDP sources alleged that the Congress has cornered all the plum portfolios leaving the paltry ones for others in the alliance. Although it is apparent that the sailing for the new government will not be smooth, yet Chief Minister Lapang is not faced with any immediate danger as the UDP with only nine members cannot pose any threat even if it chooses to pull out of the coalition.
Portfolios: DD Lapang (Chief Minister) — Cabinet Affairs, Political, Personnel, Planning, Finance, Revenue, Industries and departments not allotted to other ministers; Dr Donkupar Roy — Power including Non-Conventional Energy, Science and Technology and Election; Martle Mukhim — PHE, SAD, Programme Implementation; Dr FA Khonglam — Tourism, Administrative Reforms, Reorganisation; Dr Mukul Sangma — Taxation, PWD (Roads), Information Technology; JD Rymbai — C&RD; Sing Mulieh — Forest & Environment; BG Momin — Health & Family Welfare; RG Lyngdoh — Home (Police), IPR; Kyrmen Susngi — Horticulture, Evaluation; KK Dkhar — Border Areas Development including Border Trade; RL Tariang — Education (Mass & Elementary); Friday Lyngdoh — Urban Affairs, Municipal Administration; Mihsalan Suchiang — Higher & Technical Education; Deborah Marak — Mining & Geology; Tony Curtis Lyngdoh — District Council Affairs, Labour; PT Sawkmie — Excise, Irrigation; Paul Lyngdoh — Sports & Youth Affairs; HDR Lyngdoh — General Administration Department, Home (Passport); JA Lyngdoh — Social Welfare, Home (Jail); PW Muktieh — Soil Conservation; PM Syiem — Agriculture (excluding Horticulture); DP Iamgjuh — Animal Husbandry & Veterinary; BB Nongsiej — Food & Civil Supplies; Charles Pyngrope — Cooperation; Boldness L Nongrum — PWD (Building); Manirul Islam Sarkar — Transport; Sayeedullah Nongrum — Sericulture & Weaving.
Minister of States: Nehlang Lyngdoh — To assist Minister of Transport & Health & Family Welfare, Billikid Sangma —to assist Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs with independent charge of Communication; Lamber Malngiang — To assist Minister of Agriculture with independent charge of Weights and Measures; Heltone N Marak — to assist Minister for Power, Independent charge of Printing & Stationery; Prestone Tyrsong to assist Chief Minister in Industry with independent charge of Art and Culture; Stanley Wiss Rymbai — to assist Minister of Power, Forest; Sengram Sangma — to assist Minister of Power, Forest; Sengram Sangma — to assist Minister of PWD (Roads) with independent charge of Fisheries; Sangma R Marak — to assist Minister C&RD with independent charge of Stamp and Registration; Irin Lyngdoh — to assist minister of C&RD and Soil Conservation and Shitlang Plean — to assist Minister PWD(Roads) and Agriculture.