IN keeping with the provision of the 91st Amendment of the Indian Constitution, Meghalaya Chief Minister D. D. Lapang was forced to reduce the number of ministers in his cabinet. But the downsizing has created a situation where more problems and difficulties for the Chief Minister are expected in the days ahead.

Mr. Lapang has reduced the jumbo ministry of 42 to 12 (11 cabinet minister and one Minister of State) including him, as per the constitutional requirements. But his choice of the ministers as well as allocation of portfolios among the new ministers has created lot of dissatisfaction not only among the coalition partners, but also in various parts of the state.

 Political observers feel that though the downsizing exercise was not an easy task, by keeping 9 out of 12 ministries for the Congress and distributing the remaining three to his coalition partners Mr. Lapang has not set a good example as a coalition leader. Had he included more ministers from the other Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) partners he would have earned more loyalty from them, the observers argued. They criticised Mr. Lapang’s efforts to keep the flock within his own party together.

The Brewing Discontent

Many of the Ministers of the erstwhile jumbo-sized Ministry was assured that they will be suitably compensated and enjoy equal status to the ministers by making them head of various Boards, Corporations, Block Level Bodies, as chairman, vice chairman or Managing Directors etc, specially created for them. Much of this promise had been maintained, the dropped Ministers mainly from the Congress are gunning for Lapang’s head.

A minister of a regional party predicted that Lapang Government would not fall soon but efforts to topple the State Government were on. “Now after the formation of the new ministry you will find new alignment of the political forces though I do not know how things will shape up”, said another regional party leader, who has been dropped from the ministry. It is a great challenge for D. D. Lapang to keep the Congress-led coalition government together. It is a fact that to keep all the coalition partners happy he had formed the jumbo ministry last year. He made two trips to New Delhi to quell any threat to his government. He also argued that smaller states like Meghalaya should be allowed to keep 20 ministers instead of stipulated 12. But these things did not help him much. Majority of the MLA.s are not happy. In fact many ministers who are dropped believe the list was ready with the state Chief Minister since long and his Delhi visits was mere eyewash.

A minister from Garo Hills revealed “ the CM has told me that a new Board will be formed and I will be the Chairman of it, now ministry has gone let me wait and see”, he said anxiously. Another important leader belonging to Congress from Garo Hills said,” In fact this time party workers and leaders from Garo Hills expected a better deal.” In the new ministry, there is no representation from West Khasi Hills district and lone junior minister from Jaintia Hills. Five of the twelve ministers are from East Khasi Hills district, the neighboring Ri Bhoi district has two ministers in the new look MDA ministry and the Garo Hills districts got four berths. Distribution of Portfolios The Chief Minister played his cards well but discontentment is growing both within the Congress party and among the coalition partners. As one regional party leader complained “he gave too much importance to his favorite smaller parties and neglected larger coalition partners”.

The downsizing exercise has virtually opened a Pandora’s box. How things shape up in near future no one can predict. By keeping nine major portfolios with himself — Industries, Planning, Power, Personal, Personnel, Political, Cabinet Affairs, District Council and Political Mr. Lapang had sent  a wrong signal, the observers feel.

 Meghalaya has a history of changing governments frequently. Governments usually do not last their full term. Forming coalition and dismantling them is a regular affair though the ministers remain the same. Will the new exercis make this government more stable? Or will it ensure the fall of Lapang Government? A question which only time can answer.

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