No to Cong offer for CM post to Sangma: NCP

Shillong, Sep 8 (UNI) Even though the Opposition Congress is ready to sacrifice the post of Chief Ministership to their bete-noire P A Sangma, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today iterated its commitment to the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government.

'' We have decided to stick with the present combination and nothing can be changed now for the state's political stability,'' NCP Meghalaya Unit, President Dr W Kharlukhi said.

Echoing the NCP's commitment, Chief Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) president Dr Donkupar Roy said there was no factionalism in the UDP and the party was committed, together with the NCP, to complete the full five-year term.

Before the formation of the MPA government, both the NCP and UDP agreed to share power for two-and-half years each of the total five-year-term with UDP president Dr Donkupar Roy heading the first half while Mr Sangma leading the remaining years of the MPA government.

The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party, was short of just six seats to cross the majority threshold in the House.

In fact, the Congress required just three more legislators to tip the balance in their favour but failed to sway any.

With 15 legislators, the NCP is backing the United Democratic Party (11)-led MPA government with the support of Hill State People's Democratic Party (2), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and BJP (one MLA each) besides three Independent MLAs.

Dr Kharlukhi said that the attempt of Congress High Command to have an alliance with NCP in Meghalaya is not acceptable to the party in the state.

''Neither the Congress High Command nor the NCP leadership at the Centre had written any letter to the state NCP leaders to have an alliance with the Congress,'' he informed.

In fact, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, who is a minister in the Congress-led UPA government, had said that he would never interfere into the state affairs of NCP in Meghalaya and leave the political affairs to Mr Sangma.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker, now an MLA and Chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board, had said that even if there was a pre-poll alliance between the NCP and the Congress at the Centre and in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, it would not apply to Meghalaya.

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