Shillong, Nov 2: National People’s Party (NPP) legislator Paul Lyngdoh was reinstalled as a cabinet minister in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government today at Lok Bhavan.
Governor CH Vijayashankar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lyngdoh in the presence of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, cabinet ministers, government officers and other dignitaries.
Lyngdoh, along with his two fellow United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh, crossed over to the ruling NPP on October 19 after eight of the 12 UDP legislators merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 23.
This is a second innings for Lyngdoh, a four-time legislator representing West Shillong, after he was made a cabinet minister in 2023 but removed last year at the behest of his own party, the UDP.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing in, Lyngdoh said that he was told by the CM that he wanted continuity in the various activities of the Tourism Department and therefore he was given this portfolio once again. After Lyngdoh’s removal last year the Tourism Department was put in the hands of the dour Timothy D Shira.
Lyngdoh said that there are challenges in this department that have cropped up in recent times, an obvious reference to the under-fire Shillong Peak Ropeway project.
“The fact that we need to deal with these challenges in a balanced manner, talking to the groups and also being firm at the same time,” Lyngdoh, who has been vocally in favour of the project that was initiated during his first innings, said.
Tourism in Meghalaya also took something of a hit in August after hooligans targetted outsiders during a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) rally.
Lyngdoh said that his responsibility is to clearly ensure that the tourism sector is brought back on track, which is something he would accelerate. He will, in the coming days, hold a high-level meeting with Tourism Department officials to discuss certain projects that should not be compromised on because they “enhance the stature of the state as a destination”.
On a query if there was pressure to induct him into the cabinet, Lyngdoh said that he was not privy to such decisions, since it all happened in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
“I have done my level best to not just be in office but to be in power to ensure that the power that we exercise impacts the state positively,” Lyngdoh added.
He said that there is a need for experience, education and vision and the fact that he has won four elections and been a cabinet minister six times and also a member of the district council, means that he commands a fair amount of understanding, knowledge and is familiar with the Constitution, laws of the Assembly and traditional practices.
“All of these put together makes one competent enough to handle any crisis and any situation,” Lyngdoh added, unhindered by modesty.
