SHILLONG, Oct 11: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has declined to take a position on whether Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui should be dropped from the Cabinet after switching from the United Democratic Party to the BJP, stating that the decision rests solely with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
With the controversy over Rymbui’s continued ministerial status intensifying, Dhar told reporters that the Chief Minister alone was the appropriate authority to respond. “I think Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is the right person to give the reply to this question. It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister,” he said.
Dhar also clarified that there were no discussions under way on inducting the remaining UDP MLAs who have not joined the BJP, amid the realignments that followed the September 23 defection of eight UDP legislators.
Rymbui, who entered the Cabinet as a UDP MLA, continues to hold the Education, Information & Public Relations, Law, and Revenue & Disaster Management portfolios. He attended Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting despite the change in political allegiance.
The eight legislators have described their move as a merger and maintain that it meets the two-thirds requirement under anti-defection law.
UDP Shillong parliamentary by-election candidate Vivanstone G. Kharngapkynta has demanded that Rymbui resign immediately.
“Once you have joined another group, you should simply resign from your position as a minister in the government,” he said, challenging the Chief Minister to drop Rymbui from the Cabinet.