‘I am still a parliamentary secy’
SHILLONG: In a sudden volte-face, Independent legislator Rophul S. Marak on Thursday withdrew from the election fray and announced his intention to continue as parliamentary secretary, despite having resigned from the post just two days back to contest the May 16 by-election to the Tura Lok Sabha seat.
Rophul, who represents Siju-Rongara constituency in the State Assembly, said he had taken a personal decision to contest the Tura by-election, but in a meeting held at Williamnagar on Thursday, members of the ‘high power committee’, ‘advisory board’ and his family advised him not to contest the May 16 by-poll.
The meeting also felt that Rophul should concentrate on his Assembly constituency, he claimed.
Chairman of the ‘high power committee’ and ‘advisory board’ George Marak said the family and the supporters desire that he should not contest the Tura seat as he was elected by the people of his constituency to serve them.
George, who is also the legislator’s brother, stated that Rophul would continue to hold the post of parliamentary secretary.
When contacted, Rophul admitted that he had tendered his resignation from the post of parliamentary secretary. “It also depends on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma now,” he said, even as he added that since the chief minister was yet to accept the resignation he was still a parliamentary secretary.
Rophul is now all set to rally behind Congress candidate Dikkanchi Shira and would mobilize voters and party supporters in his constituency.
Incidentally, on Tuesday after his resignation from the post of parliamentary secretary, Rophul had claimed that he was tendering his resignation as he was ‘fed up’ with the Congress government.