Shillong, June 8: The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government will meet on June 12 to discuss the downsizing of the ministry. According to the law enacted by Parliament, Meghalaya must prune its ministry from the existing 41 to 12 ministers. Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang said late last evening that his government, a coalition of five parties, including the Congress, would “sit across the table to openly deliberate on the issue”. Lapang is also the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.
According to the amended anti-defection bill, which was signed by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on January 7, the six-month deadline for the Meghalaya government to trim the size of the ministry ends on July 6.
The meeting of the all the coalition partners of the MDA assumes significance, as it would give a final shape to the new-look 12-member ministry. Sources said the Congress was likely to keep nine ministers while giving two to the United Democratic Party and one each to the Meghalaya Democratic Party and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.
The sources said the Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), which is also a partner in the government, may not be accommodated in the new ministry. Former chief minister F.A. Khonglam, who represents the HSPDP and is the revenue minister in the current ministry, is likely to be made the deputy Speaker of the Assembly.