Shillong, July 8: The Meghalaya PCC has given its unstinted support to the downsized ministry, making it clear that dissidence will not be tolerated. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) secretary, Charles Pyngrope, outgoing co-operation minister and Congress MLA, said protests would not be entertained. ?It is too late. Why are they protesting now when all elected representatives have taken a conscious decision to give the chief minister a free hand?? he asked, terming the recent developments ?unfortunate?.
Congress legislators like outgoing home minister R.G. Lyngdoh, K.K. Dkhar, Irene Lyngdoh and others have openly questioned chief minister D.D. Lapang?s decision to include novices in the downsized ministry in place of senior and seasoned politicians both in the Congress and the regional parties, which are coalition partners of the MDA.
The disgruntled Congress MLAs have termed the 12-member ministry as ?unjust and unfair? and eagerly favour waiting for Lapang to return from New Delhi and justify his decision. The regional parties, such as the United Democratic Party (UDP), too, have refused to sit quietly.
However, Lapang does not seem ruffled by the developments, a fact reiterated by Pyngrope and PCC president Salseng C. Marak. While Pyngrope refused to admit the representation in the 12-member ministry was ?not proportionate district-wise?, Marak called for ?more discipline?. Both expressed unhappiness at the way some leaders had spoken to the press against Lapang?s decision.
?We cannot prevent anyone from going to the press. But discipline should be maintained,? said Marak. Pyngrope was more articulate, ?As secretary of the MDA, I find it unfortunate that the MLAs are airing their grievances like that.?
Without taking any names, Pyngrope defended the chief minister?s decision and claimed that all districts have been well ?represented?, like the West Khasi Hills is represented by Speaker M.M. Danggo.
Pyngrope was included in the ministry but was dropped later to accommodate representatives from the Jaintia hills. The only Congress representative from the Jaintia hills is minister of state Nehlang Lyngdoh.
The MDA secretary went on the defensive when asked to explain the ?last minute inclusion? of Congress MLA Sayeedullah Nongrum in place of another Congress legislator, Manirul Islam Sarkar. ?Sayedullah Nongrum is the secretary of the Wakf Board, also of the Muslim Union and holds other important posts and is a leader from the Garo hills. Therefore, his inclusion is justified.?
Lapang has got support from other quarters as well. Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) legislator and outgoing excise minister P.T. Sawkmie said he supported his decision. The MDP is one of the four regional coalition partners in the MDA and Sawkmie is supposedly in Lapang?s good books. In fact, Sawkmie admitted that the chief minister ?tried his best? to include him in the current combination.