8 new Meghalaya ministers join office

Shillong: The National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0 govt’s eight newly-inducted ministers, who were allotted portfolios by CM Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, took charge of their respective offices on Thursday.

The Conrad cabinet emerged with new faces after a reshuffle following the dropping of eight incumbents, as the ruling coalition reached its mid-term on Tuesday, even as assembly elections are due in 2028.

The new ministers, four from NPP — Wailadmiki Shylla (Jowai), Timothy D Shira (Resubelpara), Brening A Sangma (Dalu) and Sosthenes Sohtun (Jirang), two from United Democratic Party (UDP) — Metbah Lyngdoh (Mairang) and Lahkmen Rymbui (Amlarem), and one from BJP — Sanbor Shullai (South Shillong) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party’s (HSPDP) Methodius Dkhar (Mawshynrut) were sworn-in by governor CH Vijayashankar on Sept 16.

NPP’s Wailadmiki Shylla is in charge of health & family welfare, sports & youth affairs and home (passport) departments. Timothy D Shira is in charge of tourism, agriculture and fisheries departments and Brening A Sangma will look after border areas development, excise & home (civil defence and home guards) departments. Sosthenes Sohtun has been allotted the departments of community & rural development, secretariat administration and general administration.

UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh is in charge power, water resources, taxation and textiles departments. Lahkmen Rymbui got departments of education, revenue and disaster management, information and public relations & law.

Sanbor Shullai got departments of animal husbandry & veterinary, arts & culture, printing & stationery and legal metrology. Methodius Dkhar got departments of food, civil supplies & consumer affairs, labour, employment & skill development, registration & stamps and cooperation.