Mukul absentee CM:Saleng

SHILLONG, JULY 23: Describing chief minister Mukul Sangma as “absentee chief minister’ Independent legislator Saleng Sangma on Wednesday threatened to meet the union home minister Rajnath Singh to demand imposition of ‘President’s Rule’ if the state’s governor fails to intervene into the matter.

Sangma, also a former C&RD minister, on Wednesday met the Governor KK Paul and sought his intervention into the ‘nonchalant attitude’ of the chief minister as he felt that his absence most of the time from office has affected the work culture in the state.

Describing him as an absentee CM, Saleng in his letter to the governor said, “Ever since Mukul Sangma took over as the chief minister of our state in April 2010, it has been observed that the CM’s office is one of the least functioning offices in Meghalaya courtesy the regular absence of the occupant of the high office.”

According to Saleng the unhealthy culture is occurring amid the prevailing fragile law and order situation in the Garo hills region.

Stating that the chief minister is the overall in-charge of the government, Saleng said that the chief minister is in charge of several significant portfolios like finance, planning, agriculture, horticulture, mining and geology, commerce and industries, tourism which are directly linked with the functioning of other departments being held by the ministers in the cabinet.

“If the head of the government continues to play truant, it would not be difficult to imagine the state of affairs and the work culture in the state secretariat and elsewhere,” adding “Although there is no constitutional obligation for the chief minister to remain in office 24X7, but the moral responsibility to discharge the duties and ensuring the smooth functioning of the government cannot be disregarded,” Saleng said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting the Paul, Saleng said, “The Governor has assured to look into the matter and he will see whether he has the capacity to intervene into this matter or not.”

Saleng, however, threatened that if the governor does  not taking action, he will soon go to Delhi to meet the union home minister and demand imposition of president’s rule.- By Our Reporter