New ministers sworn in

MPCC chief DD Lapang flanked by newly inducted cabinet ministers after the swearing in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Friday. Also present were Urban Minister Ronnie V Lyngdoh and Sports Minister Zenith Sangma.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, AUG 4: Two former parliamentary secretaries Celestine Lyngdoh and Comingone Ymbon were today sworn-in as new cabinet ministers of the Mukul-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA-II) state government.

The oath of office was administered by the Meghalaya Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of chief minister Mukul Sangma, Congress party chief DD Lapang, and a host of cabinet ministers besides legislators from both ruling and opposition side.

Interestingly, Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, who were dropped as ministers yesterday, skipped the swearing in ceremony.

Speaking to reporters, chief minister Mukul Sangma announced that the two newly inducted ministers will take charge of the portfolios held earlier by Tynsong and Dhar.

Celestine Lyngdoh will take over as the new minister in-charge of Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Comingone Ymbon will be looking after the Community & Rural Development (C&RD) department.

At a time when many have questioned the chief minister’s decision that have come just few months ahead of the 2018 state elections, both the new ministers agreed that the time is “too short” for them to perform.

“It’s only four months left and time is very short but I will try my best (to perform) for the society and the state,” Ymbon, who is also representing Raliang constituency, said after the swearing in ceremony.

Asked whether the time is wrong for the induction, the new C&RD minister however said, “No, it is not wrong, infact it is the right time to show people of the state. I am confident that I will be able to do justice with the cooperation and blessings of the chief minister.”

Echoing similar views, Lyngdoh said that he will also try his best to perform though time is very short but everyday counts and it depends on us on how to . “Whatever responsibility is given, I will try the best that I can,” the new PHE minister said.

On his top priorities, Lyngdoh said that they will discuss the matter with the chief minister and accordingly “we will work as a team”.

“Being new minister of the department, I will first find out what are the problems of the department but I can answer better in a few days time,” he said while expressing his gratitude to the chief minister for giving him this opportunity.

Earlier, the chief minister said that there should be more such exercise of this kind (reshuffling) as it will create a healthy environment. “We want to create space for everyone,” he said.

Admitting that there will be some amount of doubts when such reshuffling takes place as there are allegation that Tynsong and Dhar were dropped because of their move to leave the party and join another party, he however said, “But I have not exercise this responsibility from that perspective.”

“In fact I would like many more ministers come and tell me that they would like to focus on their constituencies and make themselves free for the strengthening of the party,” he said.