Shillong, June 10: The race for finding a berth in the downsized Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) ministry has begun with most MLAs demanding their pound of flesh. According the amended Anti-defection Bill, Meghalaya will have to trim its ministry size from 41 to 12. In the 60-member House, the total strength of the MDA is 49, while that of the Opposition is 11. The six-month deadline for the Meghalaya government to trim the size of the ministry expires on July 6.
Chief minister D.D. Lapang said the new-look ministry would be born out of compromises. Lapang’s decision to create more posts of chairman and parliamentary secretaries has not impressed his coalition partners, who are said to have increased the pace of their demands for remaining as part of the ministry.
Lapang, however, said the decision to trim the ministry following the new law has been taken with a lot of maturity by the MLAs of the MDA coalition.
The MDA has decided to have an extended session of today’s cabinet meeting at 9 am tomorrow, an hour before the 11-day budget session of the Assembly begins. It will be the last meeting of the present MDA ministry.
According to sources, the new ministry will have nine Congress ministers, and one member each from the United Democratic Party (UDP), Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.
“I am yet to make up my mind on which party is to get how much. For now, all I can say is that MLAs who do not figure in the ministry would be accommodated as chairman and parliamentary secretaries,” Lapang said. However, he refused to comment on the new ministry.
Lapang said the Congress legislative party would meet on Saturday, which would be followed by a meeting of the MDA later in the evening.
The chief minister is said to be under tremendous pressure not only from the coalition partners but also from within his own party.
Lapang said defeated MLAs and members of the Opposition would also be made chairmen of departments depending on their potential.