With the halfway mark of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0 approaching, the political atmosphere in the state is heating up. Speculation is intensifying over whether Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma will finally undertake the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle in September—a move that could redefine the power balance within the ruling coalition.
One of the loudest demands is emerging from North Garo Hills, a district that has remained conspicuously absent from Cabinet representation for the past 15 years. Despite having four elected MLAs from the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), the region has repeatedly been overlooked. Expectations are running high, especially among legislators who were sidelined in the previous MDA-I term.
As whispers of new ministerial faces grow louder, insiders suggest several sitting ministers may be shown the door—potentially making room for fresh entrants, including from neglected constituencies like North Garo Hills.
NPP MLA from Kharkutta constituency, Rupert Momin, when asked whether the region might finally gain a Cabinet berth, responded with cautious optimism: “We wish but then it depends on Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and everybody is looking for that and again I said it depends on CM we can’t say we need it.”
Deflecting further speculation, Momin placed full faith in the leadership: “That is in the hand of the High Command I cannot say and almost all the development is being taken care by the Chief Minister not in Garo Hills but also in all the district headquarters like Jowai, Nongstoin, Tura, Williamnagar including Resubelpara, we are under the shadow of Chief Minister, he is taking care of all the MLAs of all the areas.”
Responding to whether there is an explicit demand from North Garo Hills for Cabinet inclusion, Momin acknowledged the aspirations: “Yes, not only North Garo Hills but from almost all the districts (of Garo Hills) there are demands but there is a limitation so that depends on the Chief Minister and the cabinet colleagues that he will look after all the needs of the people, needs of the area. Four of us we are the NPP MLAs and we are working together, we are happy and the Chief Minister is looking after all the needs.”
On the perception of dissatisfaction among MLAs from the district, Momin refuted the notion of marginalisation: “We don’t feel any neglection because we are getting what we suppose to get. Yes there are demands but it depends on Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, he has better things to decide what has to be done. But overall we are happy.”
As the countdown to September continues, all eyes remain on Chief Minister Conrad Sangma—whose political acumen will be tested in balancing competing interests, long-pending regional aspirations, and coalition arithmetic in what could be his most consequential Cabinet call yet.
