Sangma among 100 losing posts in Meghalaya boards

SHILLONG: NCP leader P A Sangma is among nearly 100 politically-affiliated persons who have lost their posts in several boards and corporations in Meghalaya in the past few days, in the wake of the imposition of Presidents Rule through the de-notification of the executive council affairs department.

"All political appointees to various boards and corporations under the government has been de-notified and facilities extended withdrawn. This has been done in the interest of impartiality and fair play, a government official said.

Besides NCP leader P A Sangma, who was the Chairman of the state Planning Board, former Chief Minister and United Democratic Party leader JD Rymbai also lost his post as the Chairman of the state economic development council

Among others to lose ''jobs'' were 17 sitting MLAs and nineteen former legislators, besides other politically affiliated persons who were appointed as Chairpersons or members of at least 25 different boards, councils, corporations and other agencies.

The chairman of a board is entitled to gey perks and allowances of over Rs 30,000, besides a slew of other facilities.

All the appointments were made by the then ruling five-party Meghalaya Progressive Alliance last year, in an apparent bid to pacify all the member partners of the coalition as well as to rehabilitate candidates who had lost the assembly elections to their rivals.

Central rule was imposed in the state on March 18 after the Governor cited a 'constitutional breakdown' in the wake of a controversial trust vote that was survived by the MPA with the casting vote of the Speaker.