SHILLONG: Former Chief Minister Salseng C. Marak, who is also the Chairman of the State Planning Board, has admitted to resentment among certain Congress legislators over the style of functioning of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Friday, Marak said, “There is resentment among some Congress MLAs over the style of functioning of the Chief Minister, but this can be addressed through co-operation and regular interactions.”
Marak also revealed that one or two Congress members had shared their concerns with him on the working style of the Chief Minister.
“But I simply suggested that there was a need to have better co-ordination and regular meetings and it is upto the Chief Minister to initiate discussions and frequent interactions,” he added.
Marak recalled that during his tenure as Chief Minister, he used to invite aggrieved legislators for regular meetings to iron out differences, if any.
Asked whether any such meeting was being held at present, Marak denied any knowledge of the same.
“It is advisable that as the head of the Government, the Chief Minister should remain accessible to the legislators so that the resentments, if any, can be discussed and their suggestions can be accommodated,” the former Chief Minister said.
Marak, however, chose to remain silent when asked if any Congress legislator had approached him to be their leader in the context of their resentment against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
Report denied: Marak, meanwhile, denied a news report that 16 Congress legislators had held a meeting at his residence on Wednesday.
The report had stated that 16 legislators will withdraw support to the MUA-II Government over the issue of the NGT ban on coal mining and the worsening law and order situation.
“The report about the meeting and discussion with me is completely wrong and bogus and no legislator had met me on Wednesday,” Marak asserted.
