Saleng resigns, form Independents’ forum

SHILLONG, JAN 25: Meghalaya community & rural development minister Saleng Sangma resigned as legislator of the Meghalaya legislative assembly and also as member of the Congress party Friday forenoon even as he announced that he along with others who were denied Congress ticket have formed a forum of Independent candidates.

Sangma submitted his resignation to the Meghalaya legislative assembly joint secretary and to a Congress official in the Congress Bhavan.

The denial of the party ticket to its sitting legislators like Saleng Sangma and Samuel Sangma by the Congress had surprise many political analysts in the state. The two legislators were instrumental in seeing that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma continued in the top job after some Congress legislators like Augustine Marak, P Tyngsong and others rebelled against him. Now Saleng Sangma squarely put the blame on the chief minister for being instrumental in denying him the party ticket.

Sangma resignation came just few hours ahead of the cabinet meeting slated to meet today in the evening.

By announcing that he has formed a forum for Independent candidates, especially of those who were denied Congress ticket, Sangma has also put to rest the speculations that he was going to contest the February 23 Meghalaya assembly election on the UDP ticket.

Speaking to this website, Sangma said, The Independent candidates forum will be for those candidates who have been denied Congress ticket and also others in Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills.” He said he was expecting around fifteen Independent candidates to be elected in the February 23 Meghalaya assembly elections.

Independent legislators in Meghalaya have been playing a crucial role in the formation of the government. As fractured mandate has been a trend in Meghalaya for a long time with no party, including the Congress, getting an absolute majority in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly, the Independents have been vigorously wooed by different political parties and have been rewarded with important portfolio in the past.- By Our Reporter