Sangma evades question on reshuffle

OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, July 1: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma evaded a question on possible reshuffle of his cabinet on Wednesday. However, he candidly said that corrective measures will have to be taken to live up with the mandate and confidence bestowed by the people in his government.

While speculations are rife that the recent victory of the Congress nominee Bluebell Sangma-said to be handpicked by him will free his hands in effecting a change in the cabinet, the Chief Minister told The Sentinel, “Let me not talk about a reshuffling, but corrective measures have to be undertaken to live up with the promises made to the people”. “As a party, we had placed an agenda before the people and corrective steps in governce that should be in sync with the people’s mandate is necessary”, iterated Mukul Sangma while talking about the need to re-enforce the commitment.

Although, the Chief Minister made no direct utterance on the cabinet reshuffle, the indication is clear that at least three cabinet ministers who have fallen out are likely to face the axe should Mukul Sangma take the step. This is understood to be part of the “corrective measures” propounded by Chief Minister who has attracted enough of interl criticism for handpicking Bluebell Sangma as the candidate for the just concluded Chokpot by-elections.

Bluebell Sangma’s victory came as shot in the arm of the Chief Minister thus silencing all his detractors. Since taking over charge as the Chief Minister for the second time in 2013, the Chief Minister has stuck and gained many adversaries within the cabinet and the party. A move to dislodge him was aborted by the AICC in 2014 with a subtle understanding to accommodate the dissidents.

However, political observers felt that the recent victory of the Congress nominee from Chokpot has added to the reputation of the Chief Minister in the eyes of the AICC.