By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development Minister Saleng Sangma, who was denied Congress ticket for the upcoming Assembly elections, on Thursday spilled the beans on how he orchestrated toppling of the Dr Donkupar Roy-led MPA Government only for the sake of the leaders like Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and MPCC chief DD Lapang.
“I have sacrificed a lot for the sake of the formation of the Congress-led Government, but when the time for allotment of ticket came, I was neglected”, he told reporters on Thursday.
According to Saleng, during the toppling drama, he had guarded the legislators including, Limison Sangma, Ismail Marak, Sanbor Shullai, Paul Lyngdoh, Adviser Pariong in a Guwahati hotel to ensure that a Congress-led Government was installed.
“But while we were in Guwahati, neither Dr Sangma nor Lapang turned up as they were away,” Saleng added.
Lapang was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Congress-led MUA coalition on May 13, 2009 after the Congress succeeded in toppling the UDP-NCP coalition government.
However, Lapang’s rule was also short lived as Dr Sangma, with support from Congress dissidents, came to power in April 2010.
Saleng, who has decided to resign as MLA and Minister, said he would prove the Chief Minister wrong by winning Gambegre seat.
Congress has fielded Beterfield Sangma to take on Saleng.
Blaming the Chief Minister for denying him the party ticket, Saleng said the Chief Minister is afraid that he would emerge as a potential leader from Garo Hills in the years to come owing to his popularity.
“As Community and Rural Development Minister, I have ensured that there is proper implementation of NREGS schemes with the help of my officers and my popularity was rising which was disliked by the Chief Minister”, Saleng asserted.
The disgruntled Congress MLA said he has been in touch with other Independent candidates to form a forum of Independents to fight the coming elections.
He said that he had met Chief electoral officer