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Cabinet reshuffle linked to quota of allies: Conrad

By Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, Sept 24 - Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that any reshuffle in the Cabinet would depend on the political parties in the coalition and their share of quota in the Cabinet formation.

Speculation is rife that a Cabinet reshuffle is in the offing in the ruling NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) which has already completed two-and-a-half years in power.

The BJP has two legislators in the coalition. One of them, Sanbor Shullai, has already demanded a Cabinet berth in place of Health Minister AL Hek, also a BJP MLA.

Shullai has been reiterating that there is an agreement that he would be included in the Cabinet after the MDA completes half its term in power. However, the report of such an agreement has not been officially made public by the BJP. Sangma said that as the MDA chairman, he would take a decision on the basis of recommendations of individual coalition partners. �It is the prerogative of the political parties to decide who should be the representative from their party in the cabinet,� the Chief Minister said after a Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Sangma said that a sum of about Rs 2.5 crore would be reimbursed to 19,000 farmers who have availed of loans under the interest subvention scheme to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders in the State. Sangma said that 1.60 lakh farmers are registered under the KCC.

Further, the Cabinet has decided to amend the Meghalaya Minerals Cess Act, 1988, and brought 14 additional items including iron ore, building stones, granite, boulders, ordinary sand, clay, earth, gravel, slate, shale and others under its ambit.

Cess will now be levied on these items and the revenue generated will be spent on health, water supply, physical infrastructure and education. Sangma expects a revenue hike of about Rs 40-50 crore after inclusion of these items in the list.

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