Shillong, March 5: Cracks have already begun to surface in the day-old Meghalaya Democratic Alliance led by Congress chief minister D.D. Lapang. Sources today said friction between the Congress and the United Democratic Party (UDP), the two major partners, over portfolios has come to the fore.
They said Lapang was still undecided on the size of the ministry, despite having already inducted 38 ministers. The chief minister parried questions on seeming differences within the coalition but hinted at a “common minimum programme” for governance, which was being worked out to check dissension.
The MDA today held its maiden Cabinet meeting where it decided to set guidelines and form a committee to ensure implementation of the common minimum programme.
Most Congress legislators claimed that they were not “hankering after portfolios but want stability”. Lapang said he would announce the portfolios tomorrow. The MDA’s discussion today centred around allocation of portfolios.
Sources said Lapang was under “tremendous pressure” to please the various members of his jumbo ministry. They said that the UDP, which joined the alliance on the assurance that its legislators would be allocated plum portfolios, was unhappy. UDP legislators have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction before party president E.K. Mawlong, asking him to review his decision on supporting the coalition.
Sources said most of the key portfolios like home, finance, planning, taxation and PWD would be with the Congress. The home portfolio is likely to be given to the Congress MLA from Laitumkhrah, R.G. Lyngdoh, while the chief minister will keep planning and finance.
Sources said former chief minister F.A. Khonglam is likely to be given the revenue department, while Mukul Sangma would be allocated taxation and PWD (roads) departments.