Shillong, Sept 16: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is inducting new ministers into his cabinet today, replacing as many as eight others, making it his first reshuffle since securing a second consecutive term in 2023.
The reshuffle replaces four ministers from his own party (NPP) and four others from his coalition partners: two from the UDP, one from the HSPDP, and one from the BJP.
And although his National Peoples Party enjoys a majority of 33 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, the chief minister has chosen to maintain the coalition (dharma) which he embraced when he first took over eight years ago, rather than form a single party government.
There are 12 cabinet positions, including that of the chief minister, that the NPP could have walked over and filled independently but Conrad Sangma opted to be magnanimous by sharing power with coalition partners.
The decision of Conrad K Sangma to adhere to the “Dharma of Coalition” by sharing power with other smaller parties has demonstrated the commitment of the chief minister to take everyone onboard with a focus towards inclusive governance.
This reshuffle could turn out to be a defining moment for Conrad K Sangma and his NPP. By taking along his coalition partners despite having a majority, the chief minister has demonstrated trust in allies who supported him when he first became chief minister in 2018.
With Meghalaya known for its history of political shifts overnight, this move could pay rich political dividends in the near future, strengthening his alliances as political competition intensifies in the coming years.
