SHILLONG: The BJP’s growing legislative strength in Meghalaya has failed to translate into greater representation in the MDA-II Government, triggering discontent by party leaders over the latest cabinet reshuffle. With its strength in the Assembly increasing from two to 10 MLAs, the BJP had expected an additional berth in the Council of Ministers and consultation before changes were made to the Cabinet. The party is now preparing to take up the matter with its central leadership in New Delhi after discussions with its legislators in Shillong.
Meghalaya BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said state BJP president Rikman G Momin had apprised the central leadership of the party’s concerns, pointing out that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had neither discussed the reshuffle with the BJP nor consulted it on the allocation of cabinet berths. “Politics is about numbers, and we had two MLAs and one was accomodated and this time when our numbers have increase to 10 MLAs, it was but natural to expect that if there is any cabinet reshuffle, we would have been consulted as a dominant party within the coalition but that was never done,” he said.
Kharkrang also expressed displeasure over the removal of the Arts and Culture portfolio held by BJP MLA and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai, describing it as another setback for the party. He said, “So, this is another blow to BJP and this does not auger well in democratic set up. We would expect some kind of sensitivity on the part of the chief minister.”
Clarifying that no written representation had been submitted to the Chief Minister, he said the party expected consultation and understanding within the coalition.
Asked whether the BJP felt betrayed after standing by the NPP in 2018 and during the political developments in 2023, Kharkrang said, “It’s not the matter of feeling betrayed but we feel that the things could have been done in a better way. Ultimately it’s chief ministers perogative who will be in his council of ministers we have not have any heart burn against anyone, what we expect is that some kind of consultation could have done with the party that there will be a cabinet reshuffle.”
He ruled out any discussion on withdrawing from the government, adding that the state BJP would meet its legislators in Shillong before proceeding to Delhi for a joint meeting with the central leadership to decide the party’s future course of action.
