By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite the UDP’s decision to back former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma for the President’s post, AICC secretary Sanjay Bapna has stated that the present arrangement in the Congress-led MUA Government in the State would not be disturbed.
“There is no question of the UDP being dropped from the Coalition. We have an agreement to work together till the end of the term,” Bapna, who is also AICC in charge of Meghalaya, told reporters here on Wednesday.
When asked if the party’s Central leadership is not disappointed with the UDP decision, he said that the party UDP was free to take its own decision on whom to support in the Presidential election.
“Look at the JD (U) and the Shiv Sena. They have decided to back UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee despite being part of the BJP-led NDA coalition,” the AICC secretary said.
Bapna also said that he did not foresee any possibility of Congress legislators of the State making any demand to the party Central leadership to drop the UDP from the Coalition.
Meanwhile, highly-placed sources in the State Congress on Wednesday indicated that the party is likely to take action against its coalition partner UDP after the Presidential election.
“Pressure is mounting on the Chief Minister to take action against the UDP since they did not adhere to requests of the party,” the sources said.
When asked about what possible action would be taken against the UDP, the sources said, “They may be dropped from the Cabinet.”
The sources also stated that the issue was ‘informally’ discussed at the CLP meeting on Tuesday night.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had, however, made it clear after the meeting thay there was no discussion on the future of Congress-UDP relations.