‘No division in UDP over cabinet reshuffle… it was collective decision’
Shillong, Sept 17: Newly inducted cabinet minister Metbah Lyngdoh, who was given charge of Power, Taxation, Water Resource and Textile department, has expressed satisfaction over the portfolios allotted to him while admitting the challenge therein.
“Any department is equally challenging. Power is a new department to me, so a lot to be learnt from this department,” said Lyngdoh, who is also chief of United Democratic Party (UDP).
Referring to the long-pending problems faced by the Power department, particularly MeECL, Lyngdoh said, “It is understood that it is very challenging and it is not a one-day affair.”
He, however, emphasised the need to take everyone on board and consider all aspects to find solutions.
On Taxation department, Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of following the tax act, especially GST.
“You see those evasion part and all, I think now the tax structure, as far as GST is concerned, nobody can escape as far as payment is concerned,” he said.
The UDP chief, meanwhile, reiterated that replacing two UDP MLAs during the cabinet reshuffle was a collective decision.
He said the West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh and Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla, who lost their cabinet positions, too were also part and parcel of the collective decision.
“I am very confident that they (Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla) are happy…,” Lyngdoh said.
“The party is very inclusive, and whatever decision made is always the decision of the party, not the decision of the president alone or of Lahkmen Rymbui,” he added.
He also denied that there was any “performance” criteria evaluated for dropping of ministers during the cabinet reshuffle.
Asserting that there is no division within the UDP, the party president said, “The functioning of the party is always very inclusive… It is because of the team work that we have with very good coordination and understanding. That is why all 12 MLAs, we are very much intact.”
“We may have our different opinions but that doesn’t mean we have differences,” he said.
