By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister RC Laloo on Thursday said money power will not work in the upcoming Assembly polls, especially in Jaintia Hills, due to the ban on rat-hole coal mining.
“There is cash crunch due to the prolonged ban on coal by NGT and hence, money cannot be used to win the elections,” Laloo said.
Laloo, who is seeking re-election from Jowai constituency, said the election this time will be fought on the initiatives taken by the public representatives and not on money power.
According to the deputy chief minister, the economy of the people of Meghalaya has been affected by the three-year ban on coal mining and people had already apprised him of the matter.
The government lost around Rs 400 crore per year due to the ban.
Laloo said in the 1983 Assembly polls, when he contested for the first time, he had to spend Rs 1 lakh.
