NPP leader Conrad Sangma was sworn in as chief minister of Meghalaya on Tuesday along with 11 members of his council of ministers.
Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, both from the NPP, took oath as deputy chief ministers, underlining the strength of the regional party in the rainbow coalition which has come to power.
BJP’s Alexander Laloo Hek, UDP’s Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, and Shakliar Warjri of the HSPDP also took oath as ministers.
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In all seven other MLAs from the National People’s Party (NPP), two from the UDP and one each from BJP and HSPDP were also administered the oath of secrecy as members in Sangma’s cabinet by Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit attended the swearing in ceremony as did BJP president J P Nadda.
PM Modi later on Twitter congratulated Sangma and his team and wrote “Best wishes to them in their pursuit of taking Meghalaya to new heights of growth.”
Attended the oath taking ceremony of Shri @SangmaConrad Ji and his ministerial team. Congratulations to those who took oath. Best wishes to them in their pursuit of taking Meghalaya to new heights of growth. pic.twitter.com/n0m2HQ4cFN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 7, 2023
Interestingly the saffron party had described Sangma’s government as “most corrupt” in the run up to the election but was the among the first parties to strike a post-election deal to set up a government in the northeastern state.
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Marcuise N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and A T Mondal were among those from the NPP who were sworn-in as cabinet ministers.
The NPP-led alliance has 45 MLAs including 26 from NPP and two from the BJP.
On Monday, 58 newly elected MLAs were sworn in as members of the assembly with pro-tem speaker Timothy D Shira administering the oath of office and secrecy to them.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Sangma affirmed that his government will continue to work aggressively to build a better state with focus on overall infrastructure, health and education and unemployment. He assured that the government will continue to make sure that the state and central programmes and schemes reach the grassroot level.
On appointing two deputy CMs, the NPP chief said, “it is a strong representation of different areas and regions of our state”. “It sends a positive message of inclusiveness”, He added.
Sangma also told the media persons that the portfolios of the cabinet ministers will be announced within 24 to 48 hours.
