Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy on Thursday expanded his Cabinet by inducting three ministers and two deputy chief ministers. Governor S S Sidhu administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at Raj Bhavan.Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) president H S Lyngdoh and two times NCP legislator Timothy Shira were sworn in as deputy CMs, while UDP legislators J A Lyngdoh, Nimarson Momin and NCP legislator E C B Bamon were administered the oath of office as Cabinet ministers.The 12-member Cabinet now has three members each of the UDP and NCP; two of the HSPDP, two Independents and one each of the BJP and KHNAM. Roy said the portfolios for his ministers would be distributed late on Thursday after a meeting of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA).On Thursday morning, senior UDP legislator Bindo M Lanong was elected unopposed as the Assembly Speaker. Congress nominee Charles Pyngrope had withdrawn from the race on Wednesday. Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) chairman D D Lapang assured the newly-elected Speaker of all coopertation. “We have confidence in your impartiality as Speaker,” he added. “I will not let anybody down after the faith you have reposed in me,” Lanong assured the legislators in response.
