Thaindian News

Shillong, March 24 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang Wednesday defended his decision to accord three more leaders with the rank and status of chief minister, saying that the state had seen such a situation even earlier.
“This is nothing new in the state. Even the then Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) coalition government (2008-2009) had three chief ministers,” Lapang said in the assembly while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address.

J.D Rymbai, the chairman of Meghalaya economic development council, Donkupar Roy, the chairman of Meghalaya state planning board and Friday Lyngdoh, an advisor to Lapang, all enjoy the status of chief minister in the state.

“I was inspired by the policy of the previous government, so I have decided to add one more. If it is wrong today, why was it not wrong yesterday,” Lapang said amid thumping of desks by ruling coalition legislators.

Justifying these appointments, Lapang said the government elevated the status of people who have earlier held the post of chief minister.

“By doing this, they command the respect of the officers and are able to deliver the goods,” he said.

Earlier, participating in the debate, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader P.A. Sangma criticised the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance coalition over the elevation of the three leaders.

“Why only four chief ministers and two deputy chief ministers? The government should also appoint additional chief minister and joint chief ministers,” Sangma said.

He said the main reason for making this kind of appointments was only to solve political problems.

“Every one in the country is laughing at us,” Sangma said.

Instability marks politics in Meghalaya, which has seen three governments since the March 2008 elections.

In the 60-member assembly, the Congress has 28 legislators and enjoys the support of 10 United Democratic Party (UDP) members, led by Roy.

The main opposition NCP has 15 legislators.

Meghalaya has seen nine governments and eight chief ministers in the last 11 years. Only on two occasions has a chief minister completed his full five-year term since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972.