The BJP has decided that the cabinet berth in the MDA-2 government will be shared equally between the two of its MLAs – Alexander L. Hek and Sanbor Shullai.
Today Hek was sworn in as cabinet minister in the Conrad Sangma-led government.
Yesterday, the BJP shot off a letter to Sangma who is also the NPP president informing him that the ministerial position will be shared for two and a half years by the two party MLAs.
“The party and its MLAs have symbiotically agreed to allow A L Hek to hold the berth for the first two and a half years which will end on August 7, 2025 following which Sanbor Shullai will hold the cabinet berth for the remaining term. Both the MLAs are hereby asked to respect and abide by the decision of the party and work mutually to ensure good governance and also to ensure check and balance,” said the letter jointly signed by State BJP president Ernest Mawrie, BJP Meghalaya in-charge M Chuba Ao, Hek and Shullai.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons after attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet, Shullai said that an official agreement to share the cabinet berth between the two party MLAs was made in the presence of the party leaders unlike in the last term which was only a “verbal agreement”.
He also said that copies of the letter were also sent to the BJP national president J P Nadda and general secretary Rituraj Sinha.