Shillong: NCP leader P A Sangma Wednesday criticised Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang for having four
legislators equivalent to his rank.
Participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks to the
Governor for his address, Sangma said "the whole of India is
laughing at us. People ask me how is it that you have four
chief ministers."
The NCP leader suggested that the state should
go for 'additional chief ministers', 'joint chief ministers'
and 'co-chief ministers' if there were political
"compulsions".
Lapang, in his reply, retorted that he was inspired
by the previous NCP-led government who had three MLAs in the
rank and status of Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, JD Rymbai
and PA Sangma himself.
"I was inspired and I thought of having one more. If
it is wrong today, why was it not wrong yesterday. What we
say, we should mean," Lapang hit back at Sangma.
Lapang claimed that giving the rank of a Chief
Minister to those MLAs who had been chief ministers in the
past, helps maintain the status of the person.
"It gives them the command and respect from
officials and people. The status also helps him deliver the
goods," Lapang reasoned, adding his party high command has
never questioned him on this front.
He also claimed that the financial implication of
having four CMs is negligible as the difference is only Rs 500
hundred in case of the salary.
PCC President Friday Lyngdoh, State Planning Board
Chairman Donkupar Roy and Meghalaya Economic Development
Council Chairman JD Rymbai are enjoying that status of chief
minister in Meghalaya besides Lapang.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 16:23