Shillong, Nov 2: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has refuted the allegation by opposition Congress that the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is wiping out its coalition partners — earlier the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and now the United Democratic Party (UDP).
“It is not about wiping out anybody. We have been working with all the concerned individuals for a very long time now and the individual MLAs have felt that they would want to come and work with the NPP,” Sangma told reporters while replying to a query on Monday.
“They have expressed their faith in the party. They have expressed their faith in the leadership,” he asserted.
Three MLAs from the now devastated UDP joined the NPP close on the heels of eight of them chose to leave the regional party to merge with the BJP.
Both BJP and UDP are NPP’s coalition partners in the ruling NPP government and UDP is reduced to just one MLA, Metbah Lyngdoh, who has eventually quit as cabinet minister.
The Chief Minister said the decision was taken by the MLAs to strengthen the party and the government.
“It is purely a decision that has been made from their end to strengthen the overall party and the government and also to ensure that we are able to work in a much more stable manner in the days to come,” he said.
“It is not that we have been trying to move around and deliberately trying to break individuals, especially the coalition partners,” he added.
However, not ruling out NPP’s ambition to grow stronger, he said, “…obviously as a political party we are looking at strengthening ourselves. We would also like to see that the party grows from strength to strength.”
“So keeping all of these factors in mind, we are happy today that more MLAs have joined us…it strengthens the party and also it strengthens the government and also it gives a strong sense of hope for the people of the state,” he added.
Terming political stability a strong key to good governance, he said, “…political stability is absolutely necessary for good governance to happen and firm policies to be taken and those decisions being stuck with.”
“Moves like these should send a sense of confidence amongst the general public. People would feel that there is an indication of long term stability that comes in.” he said.
“Let me assure all the citizens as well as the MLAs who joined us and MLAs who are with us that we continue to work in a stable and committed manner. We will always keep the interest of our state and our people in front,” Sangma added.
