Meghalaya: Mukul Sangma calls NPP-led govt an ‘ad hoc’ one

TURA, May 29, 2018: Meghalaya leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma on Monday termed the National People's Party (NPP)-led government as an "ad hoc" one refusing to lay his cards on the table should his party win the Ampati seat and emerge as the single largest party.

Sangma who has represented the seat six consecutive times says the timing was about right for him to step aside.

"It's the right time to pave the way for a new incumbent to serve the people who have stood firm behind me and the party. We look forward to a positive outcome," Mr Sangma said.

Mukul had vacated the Ampati seat after he was elected from both here and Songsak. The Congress had chosen Mukul's eldest daughter, Miani D. Shira, to contest.

"It's not the right time to put the cards on the table. Politics in Meghalaya is very different; it's unlike other states and has seen lot of instability. Running a government in Meghalaya is not a matter of joke," said Mr Sangma, who is only the third chief minister in the hill state to complete a five-year term.

Meghalaya has seen 12 chief ministers since it was carved out of Assam in 1972.

Sangma also took a jibe at the current state government, calling it "ad-hoc".

"It is an ad-hoc government as the chief minister is yet to get himself elected as a member of the house. He is still a member of parliament. This seat was vacated, he could have contested. I don't understand why he did not," mocked Mr Sangma.

TNT with inputs from NDTV, The Telegraph

Image Courtesy: Indian Express