Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma holds the sole authority to decide if Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui keeps his seat. Pressure is mounting. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar pushed the decision to the Chief Minister on October 11, refusing to weigh in on Rymbui's political future.
Rymbui recently ditched the United Democratic Party for the BJP. He currently manages the Education, Information and Public Relations, Law, and Revenue and Disaster Management portfolios. He even sat in on Wednesday's Cabinet meeting. Dhar confirmed that no talks are happening to bring the remaining UDP MLAs into the BJP fold, despite the mass departure of eight legislators on September 23.
The defectors claim they followed anti-defection laws by merging with a two-thirds majority. Still, critics want action. Vivanstone G. Kharngapkynta, the UDP candidate for the Shillong parliamentary by-election, demanded Rymbui step down. He said, "Once you have joined another group, you should simply resign from your position as a minister in the government."
Dhar remains firm on the chain of command. "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 told reporters. The Chief Minister has yet to announce his next move.
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