‘No demand from BJP for more cabinet berths’
Shillong, Sept 26: Not 22, but only three Meghalaya MLAs were in New Delhi when rumours spread about 22 MLAs camping in Delhi allegedly to negotiate with the BJP.
The three MLAs – Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and two Deputy Chief Ministers Sniawbhalang Dhar and Prestone Tynsong – were purely on an official visit to the national capital, Dhar said.
All of them have returned to Meghalaya together.
Dhar, also the NPP national vice president, asserted that all 33 NPP MLAs are intact and the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) remains united.
“There is nothing wrong within the NPP family,” he said.
Referring to himself, the CM and Tynsong, Dhar said, “We are with one mind.”
“I feel pity for those media who put such posts on social media. People will laugh at them,” he said.
Ruling out any impact of the eight UDP MLAs joining the BJP on the MDA government, Dhar said, “MDA remains with the same strength. They are jumping from ruling (side) to ruling.”
Stating that the MDA has been holding reins of the state for the past eight-and-a-half years, he said, “From 2018 to 2023, we ran it with 19 MLAs, now we have 33. I am thankful to all coalition partners, they are still supporting us.”
Dhar categorically denied any demand from BJP for increasing its cabinet share.
“There is no such demand from BJP to increase berths from one to four. Everything will remain the same,” he said.
