Shillong(Meghalaya ), Feb 3: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is likely to succumb to the pressure by coalition partners in the MDA Government for the removal of home portfolio from cabinet minister James Sangma.
Sources said that the chief minister is likely to reshuffle his cabinet soon by taking away the home portfolio from James in order to pacify his coalition partners.
Already, the UDP and PDF have recently asked the chief minister to snatch away the home portfolio from James Sangma who is also the elder brother of the chief minister.
The two ruling allies have expressed anger over continued illegal transportation of coal and also the recent illegal collection of money from coal trucks at Dainadubi check gate in North Garo Hills.
According to some legislators of UDP and PDF, the inaction by James Sangma to stop illegal transportation of coal has raised lots of suspicion besides creating a general perception in the minds of the public that everyone in the present government is involved in this coal racket.
“Our credibility is at stake since most people in the State are accusing our government of being involved in illegal coal transportation,” a cabinet minister said on condition of anonymity.
Sports and Youth Affairs and Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, who is the president of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), recently had said that on various occasions, the issues against James Sangma were discussed both in the cabinet as well as the meetings of the alliance.
Recently, Lokayukta Chairperson P K Mushahary had last month directed the CBI to investigate into the alleged transportation of coal, boulders and betel nuts in the State.
Based on the complaint filed by a border resident Abhijit Basumatary, State Lokayukta Chairperson P K Mushahary has directed Chief Secretary M S Rao to effect an immediate transfer of officials under different departments whose names find place in the list furnished by the petitioner within ten days to facilitate uninterrupted inquiry by the CBI.
Media reports had also named Suraj Joshi, Special Assistant to Home Minister James Sangma, Secretary, Mining and Geology Department, the Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills among others in the alleged scandal.
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