In a bid to further consolidate his position in politically volatile Meghalaya, chief minister Mukul Sangma has given four MLAs the perks and facilities enjoyed by him.
The MLAs are former chief ministers D.D. Lapang and Donkupar Roy, Pradesh Congress chief Friday Lyngdoh and senior legislator H.S. Lyngdoh, who also heads the Hill State People’s Democratic Party, an ally of the ruling Congress.
Mr Lapang has been appointed chief adviser to the chief minister, while Mr Roy has been appointed chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board, according to an official notification.
Friday Lyngdoh has been made chairman of the Programme Implementation Department, while H.S. Lyngdoh is chairman of the State Development Reforms Commission.
Altogether 13 sitting legislators have been given political appointments in various boards and corporations, besides 16 former MLAs and 19 others.
In the 60-member Assembly, the ruling coalition enjoys support of 44 MLAs, of whom 28 belong to the Congress.
In the earlier D.D. Lapang government, three MLAs — then planning board chairman Donkupar Roy, Meghalaya Economic Development Council (MEDC) chairman J.D. Rymbai and PCC chief Friday Lyngdoh — had enjoyed the status and privileges of the chief minister.
They, along with several other political appointees, were denotified by Mr Sangma after he took over as chief minister on April 20 following revolt in the Congress which led to Mr Lapang’s ouster.
—PTI