By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Ruling out the possibility of a Congress-NCP alliance following the exit of former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma from his party, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Thursday said the Congress had no need to forge a pre-poll alliance with any party since it was strong enough to fight the upc
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Thursday. (TM)
oming 2013 Assembly election in the State on its own.
“I do not think the Congress would have a pre-poll alliance with any party. I think the party is strong enough in the State to contest the election alone,” Dr Sangma said.
He also clarified that the general feeling that the Mukul-Purno factor was the stumbling block to a possible Congress-NCP alliance was not correct.
“There were definitely talks about the possibilities of the Congress and NCP working together in the State when Purno was still with the NCP. But it never materialised,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister also made it clear that the AICC would always consult the leaders of the State first before finalising any proposal of a Congress-NCP alliance.
“The central leadership of the party has always consulted us before taking any decision,” he added.
The Chief Minister was also confident that the Congress would get the mandate of the people in the 2013 polls.
“The government has embarked on a number of initiatives to create a benchmark in respect of development. I am sure the people of the State are politically mature enough and are capable of taking a decision by using their wisdom,” Dr Sangma added.