National People’s Party (NPP) national president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reiterated that the NPP is united, amid growing speculation over a possible political realignment involving the BJP and the United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya.
Sangma said Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar had already made the NPP’s position clear and that the party remains united with 33 MLAs.
Sangma said the reports about a possible move involving the BJP and UDP were based largely on social media posts, reels, news reports and speculation.
He said he would refrain from commenting until there was concrete and factual information before him, adding that political decisions or assessments could not be made solely on the basis of media reports or social media messages.
On the NPP’s position, Sangma said the party is working together as a strong team and is focused not only on the functioning of the government but also on strengthening the organisation ahead of the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of measures covering education, workers’ service conditions, tourism, transport, aviation, dam safety and revenue mobilisation.
Talking to mediapersons after chairing the State Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Cabinet approved CM IMPACT+, a new Grant-in-Aid scheme for around 1,900 Secondary and Higher Secondary schools. Meghalaya has around 9,000 Primary, Lower Primary and Upper Primary schools, but seven blocks have no Secondary school.
The new scheme will provide institutional lump-sum grants based on eligibility and performance, not sanctioned posts or individual salary grants, with better-performing schools receiving greater support.
The scheme will be reviewed annually and the Education Department will release a detailed framework after finalising the grant structure.
The Cabinet also fixed 60 years as the uniform cessation age for Regular Casual Workers, Casual Workers and Muster Roll Workers, replacing the earlier disparity of 58 and 65 years.
The decision takes into account the absence of regular retirement benefits, while cases of Muster Roll Workers already aged 63 or 64 will be examined individually. Amendments to the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025 were also approved.
The Rs 1-crore incentive for regional-language films will require release in at least 100 theatres or on a national-level OTT platform, while the Rs 10-lakh provision will permit national-platform release. Films featured on Hello Meghalaya will have to be dubbed in Khasi and Garo.
The Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Society (MeITS) to integrate public and other transport services through an online platform for booking buses, taxis and helicopter tickets, with scope for other tourism services.
A dedicated Civil Aviation Wing/Cell will be created in the Transport Department in view of the Umroi Airport runway expansion, expected activation of Baljek Airport after the Airports Authority of India takes over, development of helipads and helicopter tourism. A State Dam Safety Organisation with independent officers will oversee inspections and safety checks for Meghalaya’s 12–13 dams, separating safety assessment from dam-operating agencies.
The Cabinet also approved one-time regularisation of 11 Lady Supervisors in the Social Welfare Department under Regulation 3(f), in compliance with Supreme Court directions, with the decision limited to these cases and not treated as a precedent.
