Source: The Sangai Express /PTI
Shillong, April 24 2010:
Eight Ministers, including five dissident Congress MLAs who along with some others triggered the ouster of former Chief Minister DD Lapang and three former Ministers, were today sworn-in by Governor RS Mooshahary.
Senior Congress MLA Rowell Lyngdoh took the oath of office as the State's deputy Chief Minister.
Besides him, HDR Lyngdoh, FW Momin, Augustine Marak and FS Cajee �all of whom were a part of the dissident group that raked up a revolt against Lapang after he failed to meet their demands for inclusion in the Ministry, were also sworn in as Ministers.
RC Laloo, Prestone Tynsong and the lone woman MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh retained their berths.
Yesterday, the State Govt had appointed Lapang as the chief advisor to with perks and facilities entitled to the Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said 17 legislators would be appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries and they would be sworn-in next week.
"We want to ensure that the services of everybody in the Government are utilised to the
optimum.
There are many areas where the public representatives can deliver," he said after the swearing-in ceremony.
Asked if he would be able to provide a stable Govt, Sangma quipped, "Wait and see.
I am optimistic.
People want stability and we will provide it with performance" .
The portfolios of the Ministers would be distributed by tonight.
Along with Sangma, United Democratic Party leader BM Lanong was also sworn-in as deputy CM, while his party colleague JA Lyngdoh and Independent AT Mondol also took the oath of office and secrecy as Ministers on Tuesday.
All the three had similar posts in the last ministry.