SHILLONG: Independent MLA from Gambegre constituency, Saleng Sangma on Monday resigned from his post and officially joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as state president.
Speaking to media persons after joining the party, Saleng, who has also been appointed as the party chief in Meghalaya, said he did not want to create a vacuum between Khasi, Jaintia and Garos like the Congress chief ministers.
Slamming Mukul Sangma, he alleged that the chief minister was not serious about Garo Hills. “He is laying foundation stones and inaugurating projects in Garo Hills,” he said.
Saleng also questioned former chief minister, D.D Lapang for not doing much for Garo Hills. “This attitude has to change,” he said.
Responding to a query, Saleng said the ouster of Sanbor Shullai from the party does not mean the end of road for NCP in Meghalaya while pointing out that the party was looking for prospective candidates from South Shillong constituency.
“We might announce a few candidates tomorrow,” he said, adding that there are possibilities that South Tura MP, John Leslee Sangma may also join NCP later.
Castigating BJP, he said the saffron party apart from their Hindutva agenda, was trying to bring back the caste system in the country.
“Though some tribal people have joined BJP, they will be always put in the last bench and not in the front bench,” he said, while accusing BJP of suppressing their own people.
Making it clear that the NCP would not have an alliance with any party, Saleng said the NCP was a clean party and was not against any caste, creed or community.
He said as the NCP state president it was his responsibility to build the party in Meghalaya with the people. “I want the people of the state to be happy,” he added.
Saleng also rued the fact that Meghalaya has not advanced as it should have and Shillong should have been the educational hub as it was before. “Besides now, even people from here go outside for tourism purpose,” he said.
“We will try to make a difference,” he said.
Setback for Hek
Meanwhile, a host of top leaders from BJP, including P Rumnong from Pynthorumkhrah mandal, and Vikash Gupta, a BJP leader from the city, also joined NCP.
After the leaders of BJP Pynthorumkhrah mandal including its president Batshanbor Wanswett and Rumnong, who was the ticket aspirant joined the NCP, the Pynthorumkhrah mandal was dissolved.
They quit BJP for lack of consultations on the part of BJP leadership before welcoming AL Hek.
Later, the party’s general secretary, SP Thapa said it has received applications from many aspiring candidates.
It may be mentioned that Saleng Sangma was the 13th sitting MLA to resign from his post and shift to another party in the run up to next month’s Assembly polls.
