SHILLONG, MAR 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday made it clear that the ruling coalition Meghalalya Democratic Alliance (MDA) is headed by the National People’s Party (NPP).
“It is very clear that the MDA is headed by the NPP and there is no doubt about it,” Conrad said while clarifying to the question raised by the opposition Congress party during the vote of confidence at the special session, which elected the new Assembly Speaker here.
Soon after the vote of confidence was tabled by Minister in-charge Parliamentary Affairs Prestone Tynsong, opposition Congress leader Mukul Sangma immediately raised question as to which party is leading the government the NPP or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“It will be appropriate for this House to know which party is leading the government. Is it by the NPP or is it a BJP-led and its conglomerates,” Mukul said while stating that the mandate given by the people of the state is that a government be formed without the BJP.
He also alleged that the political parties have also promised the innocent people of the state and had even claimed that they have no nexus with the BJP.
Referring to the claims made by the BJP leaders in their tweets, the former chief minister reiterated that no one was given the mandate to form the government with the BJP even as he alleged for the first time in the history of the state the files during the swearing in ceremony (of the new government) were all with saffron colour.
The MDA is a six-party coalition government which comprises of the NPP (19), United Democratic Party (6), People Democratic Front (4), Hill State People Democratic Party (2), Bharatiya Janata Party (2) and Nationalist Congress Party (1) besides 2 Independents.
The chief minister however said, “All the political parties including the UDP, HSPDP, PDF in their letters of support submitted to the Governor have clearly expressing support to the government led by Conrad K Sangma.”
Appreciating the concern expressed by the opposition side, Conrad however said that this is not the forum to discuss with regards to the mandate given by the people of the state.
With Conrad forgot to mention the BJP during the course of his reply, health minister AL Hek supplement that the BJP is also partner of the coalition government while BJP MLA from South Shillong Sanbor Shullai defended that the BJP is a secular party.
When the ruling members were provoked into debate by the opposition Congress, newly elected Speaker Donkupar Roy intervenes and appealed to members to avoid bringing up issues which hurts other friends in the house.
“Though I appreciate the point raise by Mukul Sangma however the chief minister has clarified and it should end there,” Roy said.
After seeking the sense of the house, the Speaker also announced that the motion expressing confidence in the present Ministry headed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is carried and adopted by the House.
By Our Reporter
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