Shillong, Aug 31: Reacting to MPCC president,  Vincent H. Pala’s statement that he doesn’t know who the Home Minister of Meghalaya is, UDP leader Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday asserted that he is still the Home Minister of the State.

Rymbui said that he is still the Home Minister so long as the Chief Minister is yet to accept his letter.

“It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to entrust any portfolio to his council of ministers… So I have expressed my desire and the chief minister till date has not (taken any decision) as the matter is under examination. The CM is still examining my letter so I still continue to look after the department,” he said.

Pala had slammed the UDP for surrendering the department in the midst of a problem. He had stated that he doesn’t know who the Home Minister is, whether the Chief Minister or Lahkmen Rymbui.

Meanwhile, Rymbui said the Congress has been in power of  the country and the state for many years and they should be aware of procedures of appointing a Minister and the role of a Minister. “So they have to go according to principles of nomination of the Minister and what is the role to perform by the Minister, I don’t have to add more on that,” he said.

Rymbui wanted to give up Home portfolio

Rymbui had submitted a letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma requesting that he be relieved from the Home portfolio following the law and order situation arising due to the killing of a former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew on August 13, 2021.

To add to the confusion, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh had also claimed that Rymbui was no longer the Home Minister of the state.