SHILLONG, MAR 4: Former chief minister and veteran Congress leader Salseng C Marak revealed that there were some party legislators who wanted him to take over as chief minister, but he refused as he wanted that government formation should be “smooth” and without and confusion.
Marak even advised chief minister designate to slow down and take a walk instead of rushing thorough his political career. He told this website on Monday, “Politics is like marathon run one should keep a moderate speed because if one is too fast he/she may get derail soon and too slow too will not help.”
Marak, therefore, advised Sangma to slow down if he wants his political career to be long.
Marak, who after the first Meghalaya chief minister Capt WA Sangma became the second to complete his full five years tenure as CM, had about 25 ministers in his Congress led coalition government compared to the forty-two ministers that former chief minister DD Lapang had in his cabinet.
Marak, who was the chief minister during the heady days of the KSU and FKJGP, said he followed one principle in resolving crises and agitations and that was discussion across the table which he said worked wonders. He also informed that it was during his tenure that the militant group ALMA was brought to the mainstream as the group did not have arms with them let them so all of them were freed except for two of it members including Delash.
Marak said that Dilash and his mate could not be freed as they had cases in Assam for which Assam government opposed their release. Later both managed to escape from the jail and form the ANVC.
Marak was first elected to the state assembly in 1972 as an APHLC candidate, later he along with other APHLC members joined the Congress and sided with Indira Gandhi when she formed Congress (I).
Marak first suffered defeat in 2003 election and 2008 again but made a comeback in this election.- By Suraj Joshi
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