Shillong, June 25: Wary of offending any of his coalition partners while reducing the size of his government, Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang is toying with the idea of creating three new welfare boards to accommodate ministry bigwigs who may have to be relieved of their portfolios. The ministry, with 41 members, is a massive one for a state that has only 60 legislators. The size of the ministry has to be reduced to 12 by July 6.
Sources said Lapang had already discussed the possibility of forming these new boards with leaders of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA). The proposed welfare boards are likely to be constituted almost immediately after the downsizing exercise.
Apart from forming boards for youth development and welfare of traditional institutions, the government may upgrade the Economic Development Council to the status of a full-fledged board.
Sources in the MDA said the chief minister had agreed, in principle, to appoint “senior political aides” to posts equivalent to cabinet berths. The chairman of any welfare board enjoys the perks and privileges of a cabinet minister, the only difference being that he or she cannot put the national flag and the ubiquitous VIP red light on their official cars.
Lapang’s opponents argue that creating space for ministers in welfare boards and appointing parliamentary secretaries would defeat the very purpose of downsizing the government to cut costs. The chief minister, however, insists the new posts will not only keep the retrenched ministers happy, but also accelerate the pace of development.
“It makes no difference (to expenditure). Moreover, we have to ensure that we make full use of the services of elected representatives,” he said recently.
A source said the government would create five additional posts for “very senior” ministers and “three-time legislators”. The state already has 16 boards, three of them defunct.
After downsizing the ministry to 12, Lapang will be saddled with 21 senior claimants for positions equivalent to ministerial berths. Former chief minister Flinder Anderson Khonglam is likely to be made co-chairperson of the Planning Board. Another former chief minister, S.C. Marak, is the chairperson.
Lapang will visit New Delhi next week for discussions with the Congress leadership on the imminent downsizing exercise.