By Our Reporter
Shillong: The ruling Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) led by the Congress got a boost on Wednesday when live-wire Opposition member Manas Chaudhuri decided to throw his lot with the conglomerate.
Revealing this, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma informed that Chaudhuri has become an Associate Member of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).
Disclosing this on the sideline of a function held in the city on Wednesday, Dr Sangma told reporters that a formal letter was sent by the Mawprem legislator expressing his desire to lend support to the MUA.
The Chief Minister also informed that the offer of the Mawprem legislator has been upheld in consultation with the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
“We are happy to have him as an associate member of the CLP,” Dr Sangma stated.
Informed sources said that this was a prelude to Chaudhuri joining the Congress prior to election due in nine months’ time. Since Independent MLAs are debarred from joining any political party under the Anti-Defection Law, Chaudhuri had no option but to remain as an Associate Member which is perfectly legitimate in the eyes of law.
Further, the Chief Minister also informed that besides Chaudhuri, others who are associate members of the CLP include Abu Taher Mondal who is also a Cabinet Minister, Ismail R Marak and Limison D Sangma.
With Chaudhuri’s inclusion, the number of CLP associate members has gone up to four.
Meanwhile, reacting to a query on the delay of the MPCC to release the names of the Congress candidates for the 2013 elections, Dr Sangma said the Congress had its own system of scrutinizing prospective candidates.
“We have not delayed but we will announce the list at an appropriate time. The Congress has its own inherent mechanism to decide on such matters,” Dr Sangma added.
The Chief Minister also informed that names of the Congress candidates have been finalized and the same would be forwarded to the Congress high command for approval.
Earlier on Tuesday, Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Sachin Pilot, while addressing party workers at Congress Bhavan had said that the party should prepare early for the 2013 Assembly elections to get a head start over other political parties in the State.