Shillong, Oct 10: Amid assertions that the recent cabinet reshuffle has strengthened his family’s hand in Meghalyaa politics, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar today dismissed allegations surrounding family politics, asserting that his role in government is to serve the people of Meghalaya and not to promote the family.
The reshuffle saw Dhar’s brother-in-law Wailadmiki Shylla inducted as a new minister along with Dhar family ally Sosthenes Sohtun.
“I am here to work for my people, not for my family. This is not new – if [Chief Minister] Conrad Sangma and his brother James Sangma could be in the cabinet for a full term, then what is the problem? Wailadmiki Shylla is my brother-in-law, not my brother. If Dr Mukul Sangma could serve as a minister along with Zenith Sangma (his brother), then what is the problem? A ministerial berth is not a family post – it is to serve the people.”
He further clarified that holding office was not about family privilege but public service. “This chair is for the people of the state, not for the Dhar family,” he said.
On being asked if family politics is a reality, Dhar responded that reacting to every comment would only waste time. “Politics is such that if I have to react to anybody who talks about me, I will have no time to work. We are leaders who work equally for the entire state – there is no division between Jaintia Hills or Khasi Hills, we are here for the people of Meghalaya.”
When questioned about the possibility of a Pnar Chief Minister, Dhar chose to steer clear of speculation. “The election is two and a half years away. Let us talk only about development,” he said. On whether he aspires to be CM, Dhar remarked, “A time will come for everybody. Let us focus on development first. You should pray that you get a good chief minister – and we already have a good chief minister.”
Dhar also reaffirmed that the National People’s Party (NPP) remains united and stable under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma. “In the NPP there are no differences at all. For the last seven and a half years we have been working together as a team. There has been no destabilisation in the government. If you recall the Congress regime (of which he was a part before defecting to the NPP), there were constant changes, but in the NPP there is no such issue. This is the most stable government since the inception of Meghalaya,” Dhar asserted.
