Four ministers in the MDA government – James Sangma, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Hamletson Dohling and Kyrmen Shylla – have been stripped of their major portfolios in the cabinet reshuffle carried out today by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
The reshuffle of portfolios was announced shortly after the induction of Dasakhiat Lamare and Renikton L. Tongkhar into the cabinet. Lamare and Tongkhar replaced Comingone Ymbon and Samlin Malngiang who were dropped from the cabinet.
James Sangma was stripped of the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs portfolio but was given the Forests and Environment Department. He will continue holding the Power, Taxation, Law, and Information and Public Relations departments.
The Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs portfolio was given to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong who will also hold his existing portfolios of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Housing, Labour, Parliamentary Affairs, Public Works Department (Roads), and Cooperation.
Sniawbhalang Dhar was stripped of the Community and Rural Development Department and Soil and Water Conservation Department. He was given Urban Affairs and Municipal Administration departments and will continue as the minister in charge of Commerce and Industries and Transport.
Hamletson Dohling was stripped of the Urban Affairs Department and District Council Affairs Department. He has been allotted the Soil and Water Conservation and Community and Rural Development departments, which were previously held by Dhar. Dohling will also continue to hold the Information Technology and Communication Department.
The District Council Affairs Department has been given to Lahkmen Rymbui who will also look after his existing portfolios of Home (Police), Education, and Border Areas Development.
Kyrmen Shylla has been stripped of the Printing and Stationery Department but will continue to hold the Revenue and Disaster Management, Excise and Social Welfare departments.
The Printing and Stationery Department was allotted to Brolding Nongsiej. He will also continue to hold the Home (Civil Defence and Home Guards) and Water Resources departments.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will continue holding the Cabinet Affairs, Finance, Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Planning, Home (Political) departments, and other portfolios not allotted to any minister.
Alexander L. Hek will continue to hold the Health and Family Welfare, Arts and Culture, Home (Passport) and Prisons departments.
Banteidor Lyngdoh will continue to hold the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Horticulture, Sports and Youth Affairs, and Textiles departments.
Dasakhiatbha Lamare will hold Fisheries, General Administration Department, and Public Works Department (Buildings) which were previously held by Comingone Ymbon.
Similarly, Renikton L. Tongkhar will hold the Public Health Engineering, Secretariat Administration, and Legal Metrology departments which were previously held by Samlin Malngiang.
