Shillong:
Meghalaya politics has touched a new low with the Congress government appeasing its political heavyweights and creating multiple chief ministers.
The Meghalaya chief minister's deputy is now at par with his boss. Friday Lyngdoh, the state Congress chief and political adviser to Chief Minister D D Lapang will now enjoy perks and status of his boss.
That includes a pay raise, more security and better housing - something that will cost the state Rs 10 lakh more every month.
But won't it create confusion while taking key administrative decisions?
The state government says Lyngdoh will continue to do what he was doing. But the elevation is seen as a move to pacify the discontent in the Congress camp, mostly among senior members who have lost out on ministerial berths.
The ruling Congress, though, sees nothing wrong with it.
"As per the Constitutional system the Chief Minister is the one who is elected by all the MLAs. If there are any questions about his position, it is up to the government to decide what position do they want to give to whom," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said.
Two former chief ministers of Meghalaya, now ministers, already enjoy the rank and status of chief minister - a move to appease disgruntled political heavyweights in the extremely unstable politics of the state.
The Congress government was formed after a spell of NCP-led coalition and a few months of President's Rule.
"It is a situation where people are being accommodated. And second thing is, when we do not have enough funds to provide salaries to the employees, we have money to pay all the political appointees," said Conrad Sangma, Leader of the Opposition, Meghalaya.
Meghalaya has over 200 chairmen and vice-chairman of government-run bodies who enjoy unlimited travel allowance. But so far, government employees haven't got the enhanced pay commission arrears.
The Meghalaya chief minister's deputy is now at par with his boss. Friday Lyngdoh, the state Congress chief and political adviser to Chief Minister D D Lapang will now enjoy perks and status of his boss.
That includes a pay raise, more security and better housing - something that will cost the state Rs 10 lakh more every month.
But won't it create confusion while taking key administrative decisions?
The state government says Lyngdoh will continue to do what he was doing. But the elevation is seen as a move to pacify the discontent in the Congress camp, mostly among senior members who have lost out on ministerial berths.
The ruling Congress, though, sees nothing wrong with it.
"As per the Constitutional system the Chief Minister is the one who is elected by all the MLAs. If there are any questions about his position, it is up to the government to decide what position do they want to give to whom," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said.
Two former chief ministers of Meghalaya, now ministers, already enjoy the rank and status of chief minister - a move to appease disgruntled political heavyweights in the extremely unstable politics of the state.
The Congress government was formed after a spell of NCP-led coalition and a few months of President's Rule.
"It is a situation where people are being accommodated. And second thing is, when we do not have enough funds to provide salaries to the employees, we have money to pay all the political appointees," said Conrad Sangma, Leader of the Opposition, Meghalaya.
Meghalaya has over 200 chairmen and vice-chairman of government-run bodies who enjoy unlimited travel allowance. But so far, government employees haven't got the enhanced pay commission arrears.
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