Long wait for rebel MLAs before exit

SHILLONG: The delay on the part of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to chair the state-level committee to release funds under MLA scheme has irked many legislators.
The committee is yet to give the nod for release of MLA funds for the financial year 2017-18.
A legislator gets Rs 2 crore per year under the scheme. The financial year will come to an end on March 31 next and only five months are left for implementation of any scheme.
Sources close to the legislators who are set to leave the Congress said the delay to release the funds may be to prevent early exit of the rebel MLAs and hence the chief minister does not want to call the meeting of the state-level committee.
Sources added that if the MLA funds are released, this will pave way for the legislators to join other parties. At least five Congress legislators are set to leave the party and they are PN Syiem, Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Ngaitlang Dhar.
Earlier, the government had delayed holding of the Assembly Session, which had also irked many legislators who wanted to leave the party after the session.
The rebel legislators had expected the session to be held in October, but since there was a special session in June, the government used the opportunity to have the session sometime in December.
As per norm, the session is scheduled within six months.