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Staff Reporter

Shillong, Aug 24: TMC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma today said the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)’s decision to poach legislators of other political parties is because it does not trust its own legislators.

He said that technically speaking the suspended members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) cannot decide to split and merge with any political party.

He was commenting on the recent political development in the state following the merging of three Congress MLAs – Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin), Dr Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning) and Charles Marngar (Mawhati) with the NPP.

Speaking to journalists, Mukul said that political development is a matter of great concern as it does not augur well for the state and its people.

“(The ruling NPP has been engaging in poaching MLAs of other political parties because) they themselves don’t trust their own members. Let me be blunt. You do a little bit more of investigative journalism you will know what I am saying. You will see it sooner than later,” he said.

The NPP has increased its strength to 31 following the merging of the three Congress MLAs on August 19 and two People’s Democratic Front (PDF) MLAs, last year.

Stating that NPP is desperate to remain in power, Mukul said, “In 2018, you have seen in the case of the then elected member from Ranikor how he fell prey into the poaching endeavour, which itself is unethical and does not augur well for the state.  Then you have seen similar things post 2023 elections, merger of PDF with the NPP. What is the reason? Is there any justification? Is there any political situation, which resulted in making the members of the political parties to merge? It is nothing again; it revolves around the poaching of the elected representative in the august House. So it also reflects their desperation to remain in power, come what may.”

On NPP also poaching TMC MLAs, the former CM said, “I have full trust and confidence in my members. I think we have demonstrated that earlier also in the past.”

Asserting the need for smaller political parties to ensure their legislators are committed to stay in their respective parties, Mukul said, “Now, with no intent to offend anybody but it is also important for every party to ensure that their members stay as committed members of the party with the collective resolve to fulfil the vested responsibilities.”

“Now, unfortunately what has happened probably can be attributed to the party itself also. There must have been some cold war going on for a reasonable period of time resulting in this showdown,” he added.

Further, Mukul said that he along with 12 MLAs of the Congress had merged with the TMC with intent to give an alternative political platform and not with an intent to be in power prior to elections unlike the other MLAs who merged with the NPP just to be part of the government out of desperation to be in power.

“I don’t find any reason why MLAs should be so desperate to be part of the ruling dispensation unless there are some instances of inducement,” he also added.

On the possibility for the two suspended Congress MLAs to be disqualified since the Congress has decided to challenge the recent merger with the NPP, Mukul however said these are technicalities and vis-à-vis the provisions of the tenth schedule of the Constitution of India and also various pronouncements and judgments by the Apex Court.

“What happens when MLAs are suspended by the political party to which they belong, they become suspended MLAs, so they cannot be a signatory to any of the decisions being made by any of the members, who are regular members and not suspended. Therefore, a suspended MLA cannot be a party to a decision to split and merge. The suspended MLAs cannot be party or cannot be a signatory in the merger letter given by MLAs of any political party, because they are suspended MLAs. So the difference between the two and the one is completely different,” he said.

Gabriel Wahlang and Charles Mangar were suspended by the Congress before joining the NPP while sparing Dr Celestine Lyngdoh.

“Suspended MLAs cannot decide to split and merge with any political party that is the technical part. That is why the issue of suspension. It is an attempt of the party to pre-empt the chances of deciding to split or not. That is the technicality party. But how they are interpreting, whether there is a manipulation or not all these technicalities have to be known from the whole records of which probably the office of the Speaker and the party will be in a much more position to tell you but I am only telling you the technicalities of how you interpreted it. Therefore, if the two suspended MLAs decide to merge, then the suspended MLAs cannot sign together as they don’t belong to the same category anymore,” he explained.

The former CM said, “If the parent political party and the office of the Speaker will be in the best position to talk about the details as the correspondence, when was letter of merger signed – all these things will be available with them but from what we saw from the development unfolded properly carried by the media, we saw by the time the two MLAs were suspended, they not actually sign the merger, that is what can be seen by any common man who are onlooker of the development that is unfolded so now if they want to unearth the truth, then it is upto the party and then may be the truth will come out.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: Former Mylliem MLA and former Cabinet Minister Hamletson Dohling has been appointed as adviser to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

This was informed by the Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

ALSO READ: KSU for prospective implementation of roster system

The Government of Meghalaya has appointed Hamletson Dohling as Adviser to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya with perks and facilities under Category ‘A+’ with effect from the date of assumption of charge, the secretary said.

Shillong | Feb 28, 2023

TMC candidate from Ranikor Tengsim G Momin on Feb 28th lodged a police complaint against one Sailus Sangma for allegedly misplacing his original documents.

In an FIR submitted before the South West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Momin said that Sailus Sangma, a resident of Goalsora village, South West Khasi Hills District is his adviser or election agent and he had submitted all his original documents including, nomination papers, voter ID transfer paper, all the documents that contain the details of his expenditures to him.

He alleged that Sailus had intentionally misplaced or hidden the documents for the reason best known to him as he may have some ill intention towards him and his party.

Momin requested the police to take necessary action against Sailus as he may cause trouble to him as a contesting candidate.

MT bureau

Meghalaya Times

Hopkinson Road Ashiana ‘E’ Azam Block 3,
Lower, Lachumiere, Shillong,
Meghalaya 793001
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