From Dhrubajyoti Chakravorty
SHILLONG, March 6: Finding a solution to the vexed border problem with Assam will find a place in the priority list of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, which assumed charge on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after taking oath as chief minister Conrad Sangma said that since both states are having a non-Congress government it would be easier to find a solution to this border issue.
“This is an important issue for us. We will be discussing it across the table to find a permanent solution to this problem,” Sangma said adding “If we could discuss this today it would have been nice but it is not possible”.
He said that besides border problem with Assam, there are other issues which need to be discussed and settled. Tuesday’s swearing ceremony saw the present leaders from various political parties including Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP’s key strategist in the Northeast Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Sonowal, who attended the swearing-in-ceremony of the new coalition government of Meghalaya congratulated chief minister Conrad and his council of ministers. Sonowal hoped that the new government works to fulfill the aims and aspirations of the people of Meghalaya.
He also said, “I hope both the governments in Meghalaya and Assam work in tandem to bolster development of both states and advance the mutual interests for the benefit of all sections of the people.”
AGP MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita greeted the new chief minister with traditional gamocha in the presence of former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and AGP leaders.
Earlier in the day, Sangma took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Ganga Prasad in the Raj Bhavan in Shillong along with eleven other members of the council of ministers.
Conrad heads the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government that has United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), BJP and two Independent MLAs as other constituents.
The ministers who were also administered oath of office and secrecy included: Prestone Tynsong (NPP), James Sangma (NPP), A L Hek (BJP), Sniawbhalang Dhar (NPP), Comingone Ymbon (NPP), Metbah Lyngdoh (UDP), Lakmen Rymbui (UDP), Kyrmen Shylla (UDP), Banteidor Lyngdoh (PDF), Hamlet Dohling (PDF) and Samlin Malngiang (HSPDP).
The oath taking ceremony was held in presence of a host of dignitaries that included BJP president Amit Shah, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, Nagaland Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio, chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh among others.
HSPDP MLAs downplay ‘misunderstanding’
The two newly-elected MLAs of HSPDP- Samlin Malngiang and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar on Tuesday played safe on the issue of HSPDP boss Ardent Basaiawmoit’s threat to withdraw the support to the new coalition government.
Earlier, Basaiawmoit had expressed his unhappiness with the UDP for pitching for Conrad Sangma as the next chief minister sans the due process of consultation between the two pre-poll allies.
Speaking to media persons at the swearing in ceremony on Tuesday, both the MLAs said that they had not decided to leave the party and they were intact and such misunderstandings were natural.
“We are two in the parliamentary party of the HSPDP and we are united and together and we want to see the interest of the party and the people of the state and so we want to be in the government to serve the people of the state as a party,” the two leaders said.
Stating that such issues always occur in a family, the duo said that they did not had sufficient time to think about the whole issue.
