SHILLONG, DEC 19 ? The four NCP deserters who were inducted into the Lapang ministry on December 15 were allocated portfolios today in a major reshuffle in the nine-month-old coalition government. Six NCP members had deserted the party on December 15 and formed the Meghalaya NCP (MNCP) and extended support to the Cong-led coalition government.
The induction of four more members in the ministry has increased the size of the council of ministry to an unprecedented 42 in a house of 60. The strength of the coalition is 49 with the rest accounted for by NCP (nine) and BJP (two). Among the deserters, Cyprian R Sangma has been rewarded with the portfolio of Community and Rural Development (C&RD). Elstone D Marak, former Speaker gets Secretariat Administration Department and Election. Beckstar Sangma has been allocated Home (Jails) and Brening A Sangma the portfolio of Civil Defence and Home Guards.
These portfolios were taken away from eight Cabinet ministers belonging to the Congress, UDP and MDP who comprise the allies in the coalition. The ministers affected by the reshuffle today are Deputy Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, PHE Minister Martle Mukhim, PWD Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, Taxation Minister JD Rymbai, Agriculture Minister Kyrmen Susngi, Social Welfare Minister JA Lyngdoh, Housing Minister PM Syiem and Veterinary Minister DP Iangjuh.
Meanwhile, in a faux-pas, the NCP today submitted an unsigned complaint to the Speaker M M Danggo, seeking the disqualification of the six deserters. The party sent another note to the Speaker seeking the withdrawal of the complaint. NCP President Edmund K Sangma admitting the faux-pas said that the party would submit a fresh complaint to the Speaker. Disclosing this in the assembly today ,the Speaker announced the recognition of the break-away NCP faction as a separate entity in the house. Later the house was adjourned at the conclusion of the five-day winter session this afternoon.