Shillong, Jan. 7: Former Meghalaya chief minister and state Congress president, S.C. Marak, today said his party would maintain “a safe distance” from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after the end of the current term of the People’s Forum of Meghalaya (PFM) government. Both the Congress and the NCP are part of the PFM coalition. The Congress has 16 MLAs while the NCP has one less in the ruling coalition.
Ruling out the possibility of forming an alliance with the NCP before or after the next Assembly elections, Marak said his party would concentrate on making a “big comeback” in the forthcoming elections.
The Congress would try its best to prevent a coalition government so that issues like militancy could be tackled in “a correct atmosphere”, he added. “The Congress has realised that coalition politics is not healthy for Meghalaya. Take a look at what is happening to the Central government schemes. Most of the funds sanctioned do not reach the intended beneficiaries,” he said.
Marak, who is currently in New Delhi to attend a meeting with AICC president Sonia Gandhi to finalise the party’s manifesto and candidates for the polls, said the Congress would not allow anyone to gain political mileage by making militancy an issue.
Marak also criticised NCP general secretary and one-time friend Sangma for his “false allegation”.
Sangma had accused Marak of “being responsible for militancy in the Garo hills”.
Marak said if voted to power, the Congress would focus on “stable and good governance” and help restore peace and normality in the state.
Reiterating the need to put up a united fight to end militancy, he said, “We should not politicise the issue of militancy and should learn from others’ experience.”
The PCC president added that the Congress would try to woo the militant outfits to come out for talks.