Saleng resigned as MLA, joins as new NCP chief in state

SHILLONG, JAN 15: Independent legislator from Gambegre Saleng A Sangma today resigned as member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and joined the NCP Meghalaya state as its new chief ahead of the upcoming state polls.

The two-time MLA and former Congress minister handed over his resignation letter to the Assembly’s Speaker AT Mondal through the Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons here on Monday.

Soon after this, Saleng was formally welcomed as the new state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at the party’s office in the presence of working president Vijay Raj and general secretary SP Thapa.

He was appointed by the NCP national general secretary in-charge North East and MP Praful Patel who in the letter stated, “We hope you will work with greater zeal and enthusiasm in strengthening the party in Meghalaya.”

Speaking to media persons, Saleng said “I have given this responsibility as a leader and I will look at all angles on how to build the party in the state with the people. We want to make a strong team.”

He also said that no matter how many seats it will get, the NCP will surely make a difference in the upcoming elections.

“Whatever number we get, we will come and we will make a difference and show that we are determined to serve the people and the state,” he said.

Asserting that the NCP is different from other political parties, the newly appointed state chief said because it has not create any kind of situation in the state and it is not against anybody based on caste, greed and religion.

He alleged that the ruling Congress under the leadership of the chief minister Mukul Sangma has been biased to people of the state.

“Are they (Congress) serious about the Khasi-Jaintia Hills when maximum of the foundation stones are mostly laid in the Garo Hills (since CM if from the region) and how many times DD Lapang when he was CM visited Garo Hills…these vacuum we will fill up,” he added.

Asked about the perception that the NCP is a Garo party, Saleng said that is perception made by the people and not by the former founder late Purno Agitok Sangma.

“When PA Sangma left, Sanbor Shullai took over as the party and he made a difference. But even if Sanbor left the party it does not mean it’s over, we can still make a difference,” he said.

Out of its two elected representatives in the 60-member House, Shullai, a former legislator of South Shillong constituency recently resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after he was sacked as the NCP state president.

However, Marthon Sangma, who was also elected on an NCP ticket from Mendipathar constituency in the last 2013 election, is also likely to join the ruling Congress ahead of the Assembly polls.

Asked, Saleng said that the MLAs who are leaving the party and joined other political parties are not for the people but they are themselves even as he added the party will ensure it retains the two seats (South Shillong & Mendipathar).

The new NCP state president further informed that the first list of candidates will likely be announced during the visit of the party’s national general secretary Praful Patel tomorrow.

“We are looking at prospective candidates to field from different constituencies,” Saleng said while informing that he would soon convene a meeting to arrive at the number of candidates to be put up in the upcoming elections.

Claiming that leaders of other political parties have also expressed their keen interest to join the NCP, he said that two former NCP MLAs – ECB Bamon from Jaintia Hills and Desang M Sangma – have come back to join the party.

Reacting to a query, Saleng also claimed that a sitting legislator is also expecting the join.

Meanwhile, NCP state general secretary SP Thapa informed that the party has received applications for ticket from many aspirants. There are some constituencies which are having more than two aspirants, he said.

By Our Reporter