SHILLONG Feb 12 - Under pressure from coalition partners and Cabinet colleagues, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has stripped elder brother James Sangma of his Home (Police) portfolio and allotted it to Lahkmen Rymbui.
The move is being seen as a means to placate some coalition partners and Cabinet ministers who have been upset with James Sangma for his alleged failure in checking illegal coal transportation in the State.
Some of the coalition partners have been openly expressing their displeasure and wanted the Chief Minister to take action against his elder brother.
However, the Chief Minister has been defending James Sangma for quite some time and till recently, lauded the �good work� being done by the Home Department under him.
But last evening a decision was taken to axe James from two key portfolios � Home and District Council Affairs. The all-important Home Department will now be looked after by Rymbui.
The District Council Affairs Department was also taken away from James Sangma as there has been major upheavals in the Khasi and Garo Hills Autonomous District Councils with the NPP losing grip on these councils in the recent past.
After being stripped of his portfolios, James Sangma will now be in charge of Power, Taxation, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Law and Information, and Public Relations departments.
Rymbui will continue to look after Education, Forest and Environment and Border Area Development, apart from assuming charge of the Home (Police) Department.
The Chief Minister also reshuffled the portfolios of other Cabinet ministers. Health Minister AL Hek has been given charge of Home (Jail-Passport) and Arts and Culture, apart from the current portfolios he holds. Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling has been given the charge of the District Council Affairs portfolio. He will also look after the Municipal Administration and Information and Technology departments.