By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 23: Former chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Mukul Sangma on Friday sought an investigation into the alleged poaching of legislators by the National People’s Party through inducement with money from illegal sources.
“The leadership of the political dispensation in power must come clean on this. The people have to ask if they are engaging in illegal activities and where their money is coming from,” he said.
The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president, Vincent H Pala had said the NPP was trying to eliminate the opposition parties by using “illegal money” obtained from drugs, coal mining, and manipulation of contract works. He said this after three of the four Congress MLAs joined the NPP a few days ago.
Sangma said he has reasons to believe the government needs to be questioned.
“Go to Police Bazar in the evening and other parts of Shillong. You will see the illegal activities happening. Can it happen with so much impunity unless there is some patronage? This warrants an investigation,” he said.
Referring to Pala’s allegation, he said the House needs to discuss the issue of money made illegally from drugs, mining, and manipulated contract works. He, however, said poaching of legislators is nothing new.
He recalled how the Ranikor MLA (Martin M Danggo) fell prey to poaching in 2018 and how the People’s Democratic Front (with two MLAs) merged with the NPP after the 2023 Assembly elections.
“This shows the desperation of elected representatives to remain in power,” Sangma said.
He said he has confidence in the TMC legislators and other party members to resist any poaching attempt. “I think we demonstrated this earlier,” he added.
The former CM felt the defection of three MLAs could be attributed to issues within the Congress.
“There must have been some cold war for a reasonable period or other factors but no MLA can be so desperate to be a part of the ruling dispensation unless there is some inducement,” Sangma said.
