SHILLONG: Putting up a brave front in the wake of resignation of the state’s power minister, the chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Wednesday claimed that the ruling Congress would get close to 40 seats (out of total 60) in the upcoming Assembly polls. “Mark my word,” he said
Sangma also lambasted the deserters of Congress party challenging them to resign from the post of MLA too if they have the courage.
“If somebody has the courage, let them resign from the post of MLA,” Mukul Sangma said while responding to queries of journalists on the sidelines of the laying of foundation of the Shillong Medical College and Hospital here on Wednesday.
The statement came from the Chief Minister after Comingone Ymbon resigned from the post of Power Minister earlier this week.
Apart from Ymbon, other senior Congress leaders like Prestone Tynsong and Rowell Lyngdoh and others are set to join NPP.
Slamming the deserters, Sangma said that the problem with the deserters was they were not loyal to the people who elected them as an MLA from a party besides they have betrayed thousands of Congress workers in the state.
Asked about the accusations that Chief Minister’s alleged interference in departments hold by others, Mukul Sangma said that as per the procedure, when the Minister was not in station, the file of important nature would be put to the Chief Minister.
“We don’t wait for people who don’t come and attend the office. Office of a Minister is important office and it is an office of decision maker and policy maker. The greater interest of the people has to be seen,” Sangma said.
Castigating the Power Minster, who accused the Chief Minister of intervening into the Power department, Sangma said, “What is the situation in power. Is it not bleeding.”
“When the Meghalaya Energy Corporation (MeECL) requires and Minister is not there. Should I not call a meeting? How much money is going on waste daily which is preventable, because of interest repayment and because you are delaying some decision,” an angry Sangma added.
Reiterating that the post of Minister is very responsible post, Sangma said that an important post was not for someone who often goes Shillong-Kolkata-Kolkata-Shillong
“File an RTI and see how many times, Prestone has gone to Kolkata. What job do they have in Kolkata? Who is waiting for them there?” he added, adding that that the post of the Minister is vested with the responsibility of the future of the state.
“It is a serious business and if the Chief Ministers does not understand the seriousness of this business, the state will go to the dogs and I will not allow the state to go to the dogs when I am holding the responsibility of the Chief Minister,” he added.
Chief Minister also asserted that he did not regret giving Cabinet berth to Comingone Ymbon since people know that he was given an opportunity and a platform but still he left.
When asked drawn to about the accusation made by political parties of him being corrupt, he said that his job was to drag them to legal battle and some have even withdrawn their statement, adding that people who don’t have issues are showing their frustration and anger through such accusations.
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