Shillong, May 02: Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang today said he would start working on downsizing of his ministry after the Lok Sabha results. "We have not yet worked out a formula as the law said the size of the ministry will be 12 after July 6. Most likely we will do something after May 13 (the day of counting of the votes)," Lapang told reporters.

The Lapang ministry has now 32 cabinet ministers and nine ministers of state.

Admitting that 'unhappiness' among the drop-out ministers was bound to be there after the downsizing exercise, the Chief Minister said everyone (of his Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government) has now 'prepared' their mind about the law. Asked if he would appoint more chairmen and vice-chairmen to accommodate the discards, Lapang asked why one should not use the services of the MLAs.

There would be more transparency in a small ministry and those who are not in the government are 'free to criticise' the administration, he said.

Bureau Report