James stripped of home portfolio

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 12, 2020

SHILLONG: Succumbing to the pressure of coalition partners, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma finally decided to strip the home portfolio from his elder brother James K Sangma instead of dropping him from the ministry.

The first reshuffling of the portfolios was made following discontentment among ministers in the MDA government against the style of functioning of James.

James was relieved from the home and district council affairs portfolios and was instead given taxation and information & public relations but retained power, food, civil supplies & consumers affairs and law.

A notification issued by the chief secretary MS Rao on Tuesday said, “The governor on the advice of the chief minister is pleased to order the reallocation of portfolios of the following (four) ministers…”

Lahkmen Rymbui of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has been made new home minister of the state.

Rymbui will also continue to look after education, forest & environment and border area development.

Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) will now take charge of the DCA department.

He is also holding municipal administration and information technology.

Meanwhile apart from health & family welfare and arts & culture, BJP minister AL Hek will also look after home (jail) and home (passport).

It may be mentioned here that the coalition partners including UDP, PDF, BJP and others have been demanding removal of James as home minister over the alleged illegal transportation of coal in the state.