Shillong, Jan. 22: The NCP?s one of the high-profile candidates-to-be ? chief minister F.A. Khonglam ? may, in fact, be denied nomination for the coming elections. Khonglam?s ?indecisiveness? ? he has so far masked his poll plans in secrecy ? may cost him an NCP ticket, with the patience of party leaders fast running out. Irked party leaders questioned the chief minister?s intentions, asking him to either formally apply for a ticket or declare if he wanted to go to the voters as an Independent.
NCP leaders are also angry over the fact that Khonglam, of late, has landed in several ?controversies?, the splurge on statehood day yesterday being the latest. NCP state vice-president W. Kharlukhi today said the party was highly critical of the way things were shaping up, as far as a ticket to Khonglam was concerned. ?He should be denied the ticket,? Kharlukhi said.
The chief minister is an associate member of the NCP.
Kharlukhi, known to be close to NCP strongman P.A. Sangma and state president Robert Kharshiing, said as far as development was concerned, ?it leaves a lot to be desired?.
Kharlukhi?s utterances indicate that Khonglam may ultimately not be nominated from Sohra in Cherrapunjee. ?He may be denied (nomination) not so much for keeping the party on tenterhook, but for avoiding the party and landing himself in controversies,? a source said.
On Monday, P.A. Sangma declared names of four more candidates, including that of industries minister Simon Shiangshai, but Khonglam?s name was not in it. Those whose names were declared are V.S. Lyngdoh from Laitumkhrah, H. Aroy Kharpuli from Laban and Rosslin Lyngdoh from Mairang.
The constituencies for which the party is yet to field candidates include Jaiaw, Mawlai, Umroi, Sohryngkham, Sohra and Shella.
The extravagant Meghalaya Day celebrations at the Polo Grounds yesterday, where the government reportedly spent around Rs 12 lakh, has sparked protests from several quarters.
The event managers of the celebrations told newspersons last evening that the government would have to pay Rs 12 lakh.
Senior leaders, including former finance minister and Meghalaya Democratic Party member A.H. Scott Lyngdoh ? reputed for presenting a ?surplus budget? ? charged Khonglam and his government with ?wasting public money?.