Shillong, Sep 18 (IANS): Two-time United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator H. Brolding Nongsiej was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the Conrad Sangma-led Meghalaya government on Wednesday.

He was administered the oath of office by Governor Tathagata Roy in the presence of Chief Minister Sangma, his cabinet colleagues, Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and senior government officials.

Nongsiej was inducted into the cabinet following the resignation of Tourism Minister Metbah Lyngdoh to get elected as the Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly.

On September 13, Lyngdoh was elected the state Assembly Speaker. The election was necessitated following the demise of incumbent Donkupar Roy on July 28.

In the Assembly, which has an effective strength of 59, the National People's Party has 21 members, the UDP has eight, the People's Democratic Front four, there are two members each from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Hill State People's Party, one member each from the Nationalist Congress Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement besides one Independent member. The opposition Congress has 19 members.