Meghalaya State BJP waiting for central nod to new executive members

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 9: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek has informed that the list of the new state executive members is awaiting the approval of the central leadership.

“This morning I spoke to the newly elected president Rikman G Momin, who is on the way to Delhi with a list for the approval of the central leaders. After getting the approval, they will publish the names of the new state executive members of the party,” Hek told reporters.

On the party’s preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Hek said that his name is among the three ticket aspirants for the Shillong parliamentary seat.

“However, I don’t know who the other two names are. So we will see who from the three names will be the best choice for contesting from Shillong parliamentary seat,” he said while adding “Among the three, whoever will be chosen, we will have to work hard and ensure win in this upcoming Lok Sabha election.”

On TMC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma joining the BJP, Hek however said the door of the BJP is not only open to TMC but also to all political parties.

“Mukul Sangma can join at any time he wants. I welcome him anytime but we have not discussed so how will I know if he is joining or not. But for us the door is open to anybody who wants to come to the BJP,” he said.

Hek also said that he has no idea on whether Mukul Sangma is in touch or not with the BJP central leadership.

Govt to review Shillong, Tura medical colleges

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 2: The state government will soon review the status of the proposed Shillong medical college and under-construction Tura medical college.

“We will be reviewing these matters sometime by mid-April,” Minister-in-charge of Health & Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters.

Lyngdoh said she is not completely privy to the status of the Shillong medical college but there are some problems regarding the location and that decision has to be first taken there.

“We will also have to ensure that this PPP formula that will be implemented in Shillong is a formula that will be good for the state of Meghalaya,” she asserted.

“Therefore, we will review the status (of the proposal) so that we have a better idea as there are so many components to a PPP model in a medical college. We would like to get the best deal out of the offers which have come before the state,” she added.

Lyngdoh further informed that the progress of the Tura medical college is satisfactory.

Last month, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had informed that talks are on for setting up of the Shillong Medical College in a public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

This was after the government had cancelled the MoU signed with the earlier partners for setting up the Shillong medical college after nothing moved even after 10 years have lapsed.

The government has already identified a land of 50 acres in the new city area where the medical college would be set up.

Earlier in his budget speech, the Chief Minister said his government is committed to establishing medical colleges in the state.

He informed that the physical progress of the Tura medical college is about 40 per cent and said, “We are taking steps to fast-track its construction.”

“The proposal for setting up a medical college in Shillong in PPP mode is being actively considered and we expect to initiate this project in 2023-24,” the CM had assured.