SHILLONG, March 4— The biggest-ever coalition ministry in Meghalaya was sworn-in here today with the former Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang as the new Chief Minister. Apparently shaky over the fact that the last Assembly had been as many as six Governments in the span of five years, Lapang inducted a record 38 ministers-28 of Cabinet rank and the rest ten as Ministers of State in the two-tier Council of Ministers. State Governor, M M Jacob administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Council of Ministers at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhawan in the presence of a big gathering.
A surprise and last-minute inclusion in the ministry was former Chief Minister Dr F A Khonglam, who has been given a Cabinet berth. The HSPDP, from which party Dr Khonglam was elected after being denied a ticket by the NCP, had extended support to the Government at the last moment, Lapang explained later. The oath-taking was delayed at least 20 minutes as four inductees including Sayeedullah Nongrum arrived late giving tense moments to Lapang. They were stuck in the afternoon rush hour traffic, it was learnt.
With the HSPDP also supporting the coalition Government, the strength of the new grouping christened Meghalaya Democratic Alliance has risen to 42. The allies include the Congress with 22 members, UDP nine, MDP four, KHNAM and HSPDP two each and Independents three. The two woman returned, among the 14 who had contested to the Assembly, have both been inducted into the ministry. Smt Deborah Marak received a Cabinet berth while Smt Irin Lyngdoh was given Minister of State status.
Prominent among the ministers with Cabinet rank are Dr Donkupar Roy (UDP), Martle Mukhim (UDP), Dr F A Khonglam (HSPDP), Dr Mukul Sangma (Cong), J D Rymbai (Cong), B G Momin (UDP), R G Lyngdoh (Cong), Friday Lyngdoh and Sayeedullah Nongrum, both Congress. Former Khasi Students Union President and Chairman of KHNAM, Paul Lyngdoh has also been given a Cabinet berth.
Two first-timers Charles Pyngrope and B L Nongrum also joined the rank of Cabinet Ministers while another ten new faces have been given the rank of Ministers of State. Later, justifying the jumbo-size of the ministry, Lapang told newsmen “it is a compulsion of coalition politics. We have tried to accommodate all the allies. There should now be no room for the allies to grumble.” Promising good governance and transparency, he also appealed to the insurgent outfits in the State to stop violence and come for talks.