Saleng blames Purno, James for quitting MPF

SHILLONG: Independent legislator Saleng Sangma, who withdrew from the Meghalaya People’s Front (MPF) on Wednesday, has blamed both Tura MP PA Sangma and his son NPP legislator James Sangma, who is also the Opposition Chief Whip, for the disintegration of MPF.
Besides Saleng, another Independent legislator John Leslee Sangma also quit the MPF on the same day.
According to Saleng, the differences started when NPP decided to field a candidate (  Phillipole D Marak)  to take on  Kalpana D (Sangma, the widow of GNC leader Clifford Marak, in the Chokpot by-poll held in June.
Saleng pointed out that Clifford Marak, John Leslee Sangma and others had worked hard to ensure the victory of PA Sangma in the Lok Sabha polls, but the NPP did not respect the sentiments of many sitting legislators and former MLAs as they had suggested not to field any candidate against the widow of Clifford, who finally could not retain the seat since the Congress candidate Bluebell Sangma emerged victorious.
“NPP leader PA Sangma, who contested and won Tura seat during the Lok Sabha polls, had addressed the people on the need to have a separate state for Garos, but it is an irony that the same leader  had put up a candidate against Clifford who was spearheading the movement for Garo state”, Saleng said
Saleng also said that during the upcoming GHADC polls, NPP which was part of MPF did not bother to consult the coalition partners and instead went ahead announcing the names of party candidates.
“I regret that I supported PA Sangma during Lok Sabha polls. This time we wanted to have an alliance for GHADC polls, but NPP suddenly announced the names of the party candidates,” Saleng added.