The tiny Meghalaya had 21 governments in 38 years. Just two of them completed their five- year terms. The pine-lined ‘abode of clouds’ has more to boast of. In 1978, a mere six years after formation, the state elected D.D. Pugh chief minister by lottery. In 2001, an Independent legislator, F.A. Khonglam, became CM. And now, there are four people enjoying the chief minister’s rank.
United we rule; Donkupar Roy (left) with D.D. Lapang
D.D. Lapang became chief minister last May. Two others shared his rank— State Planning Board chairman Donkupar Roy and Meghalaya Economic Development Council chairman J.D. Rymbai, both former CMs.
As if that was not enough, Lapang offered the same status to friend and state Congress president Friday Lyngdoh on January 28. Lyngdoh will not have executive powers, but will function as “political adviser” to Lapang, according to a government notification.
Lyngdoh had the deputy CM rank before the elevation. “Roy and Rymbai are former chief ministers from a different party,” says opposition MLA Manas Choudhuri. “But I see no logic behind the elevation of Lyngdoh.” Congress insiders say it was appeasement. Lyngdoh has of late been voicing grievances of Lapang’s detractors.
The Congress has 28 MLAs and the support of 10 from the United Democratic Party in the 60-member Assembly. The main opposition is former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma’s Nationalist Congress Party with 15 MLAs. At least eight rebel MLAs in the Congress are loyal to Lyngdoh.
But the CM-rich government has few takers. “This is a bizarre attempt to ensure the longevity of the Congress government, and will put immense pressure on the state exchequer,” says Kong Norris, a schoolteacher. “Apart from four CMs the state also has a couple of deputy CMs—Mukul Sangma and Bindo Lanong.” Opposition leader Conrad Sangma says “the government is wasting money just to stick to power, and that, too, when the state does not have enough funds to pay salaries of its employees.”
Lapang is unfazed. He says more MLAs would be raised to CM rank, if required. His is the third government in the state since the March 2008 elections. Any bets on how long it will last?
United we rule; Donkupar Roy (left) with D.D. Lapang
D.D. Lapang became chief minister last May. Two others shared his rank— State Planning Board chairman Donkupar Roy and Meghalaya Economic Development Council chairman J.D. Rymbai, both former CMs.
As if that was not enough, Lapang offered the same status to friend and state Congress president Friday Lyngdoh on January 28. Lyngdoh will not have executive powers, but will function as “political adviser” to Lapang, according to a government notification.
Lyngdoh had the deputy CM rank before the elevation. “Roy and Rymbai are former chief ministers from a different party,” says opposition MLA Manas Choudhuri. “But I see no logic behind the elevation of Lyngdoh.” Congress insiders say it was appeasement. Lyngdoh has of late been voicing grievances of Lapang’s detractors.
The Congress has 28 MLAs and the support of 10 from the United Democratic Party in the 60-member Assembly. The main opposition is former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma’s Nationalist Congress Party with 15 MLAs. At least eight rebel MLAs in the Congress are loyal to Lyngdoh.
But the CM-rich government has few takers. “This is a bizarre attempt to ensure the longevity of the Congress government, and will put immense pressure on the state exchequer,” says Kong Norris, a schoolteacher. “Apart from four CMs the state also has a couple of deputy CMs—Mukul Sangma and Bindo Lanong.” Opposition leader Conrad Sangma says “the government is wasting money just to stick to power, and that, too, when the state does not have enough funds to pay salaries of its employees.”
Lapang is unfazed. He says more MLAs would be raised to CM rank, if required. His is the third government in the state since the March 2008 elections. Any bets on how long it will last?
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