Thaindian News

Shillong, April 24 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma Saturday said the stability of his government would depend on “good governance”.

“Development and stability go hand-in-hand. We will ensure that stability will be provided through good governance,” Sangma told reporters after the expansion of his ministry.

Eight Congress legislators - Rowell Lyngdoh, R.C. Laloo, H.D.R. Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Augustine D. Marak, Frankenstein W. Momin, Founder Strong Cajee and Ampareen Lyngdoh - the lone woman legislator - were sworn in as ministers.

Rowell Lyngdoh, was named deputy chief minister.

With the induction of the eight legislators, Sangma’s council of ministers has now been fully constituted.

Sangma was sworn-in April 20 along with A.T. Mondal (Independent) and Bindo Mathew Lanong and J.A. Lyngdoh of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The Congress has 28 legislators in the 60-member house and has the support of nine UDP members, two Hill State People’s Democratic Party, four independents and one KHNAM legislator. The NCP, which is the main opposition, has 15 members.

Instability, Sangma said, arises only if the performance of the government is not up to the mark. “Stability will be a far cry if the government does not put up a good performance,” Sangma said.

Sangma, however, expressed optimism that his government will perform well.

On the non-inclusion of the lone Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement member Paul Lyngdoh, who was instrumental in toppling the NCP-led government and bringing the Congress to power last year, the chief minister said: “The potential services of everybody will be utilised in a proper manner…”

“Seventeen legislators who would take oath as parliamentary secretaries next Tuesday will be allowed to deliver at the optimum,” he said.

–Indo-Asain News Service

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