SHILLONG, March 12: The Meghalaya ministry headed by Brington Buhai Lyngdoh will seek vote of confidence on March 20. Announcing this at his first press conference today, Lyngdoh said the first session of the new Assembly would be convened on the same day and Governor M M Jacob would also address the House.About twenty-six ministers, 19 of cabinet rank, were sworn in yesterday. Lyngdoh said he would induct another minister, M Suchiang soon.
Suchiang's name was enlisted originally in the cabinet ministers list and later as minister of state. However, Suchiang could not be present at the swearing-in ceremony as he had to rush home due to domestic reasons.
To a query, Lyngdoh said the government needed efficient ministers and Suchiang was ``very efficient''. The `quality' and not the size of the ministry was important, he said. The United Parliametnary Forum ministry comprises 15 members of United Democratic Party, three Hill States Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), one Garo National Council (GNC), threeBhartiya Janata Party, and four Independents.
The newly constituted 60-member Assembly consists of: UDP-20, Congress-25, HSPDP-3, BJP-3, PDM-3, GNC-1, Independent-5.
Regarding the three MLAs of the Peoples Democratic Movement, who were first with the UPF but later withdrew, Lyngdoh said they would not pose any problem as he would consult all the 60 members of the House before taking any decision on state related matters.
When pointed out that in 1983 his ministry survived for only 29 days, Lyngdoh said that was a temporary set back but said he always had `a stable ministry'.
This is Lyngdoh's fourth successive term as the Chief Minister.
He was confident that he would survive the full term as ``we will make the state, an island of peace, the wat it was earlier''.
Asked to comment on outgoing chief minister Salseng C Marak's remark in the Assembly about communalism raising its head in the state for the first time, Lyngdoh said, ``Marak is wrong. In the next few days he will cooperative with me aswe are all constructive members of the House.''
On the demands of seperate states for garos and khasis in the election manifesto of Garo National Council and Hills States Peoples Democratic Party respectively, Speaker F K Mawlong, who was also present replied, it was a political demand and would not hamper day to day functioning of the ministry.
Regarding the demand of the reservation policy of the state particularly from Jayanatia Hills state, he said he did not think that there would be any agitation.
On the Khasi Students Union's objection to conduct the municipal elections, Lyngdoh said he would consult the parliamentary affairs minister and other political groups and arrive to a decision.
On the Supreme Court's ban on timbers, he said he has talked with the Centre and would soon take adequate action as the state has suffered a lot.
Asked whether he would refer some state cases to the CBI, the Chief Minister, without mentioning specific cases, said, ``Some cases may be necessary for CBIinquiry.''
Sarkar allots berths
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday allotted portfolios to his 17-member ministry which took oath last evening. He kept with him key departments like home, power, planning and co-ordination and law. No major changes were made in the departments of the ministers of the last cabinet. Among the newly inducted members, Badal Choudhury has been entrusted with finance and public works, while Narayan Rupini pocketed forest and animal resources development. Durbajoy Reang will look after jail, Pabitra Kar industries and commerce while Ananta Pal has been allotted rural, handloom, handicrafts and sericulture, printing and stationery. Among the old faces, Anil Sarkar's portfolio has been retained - education, welfare of SC, OBC. The department of information, cultural affairs and tourism (ICAT) has been allotted to Jitendra Choudhury.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
