SHILLONG:
Chief minister designate and national president of National People’s Party Conrad K Sangma, on March 6, said he did not like to treat coalition partners as use-and-throw.
He was speaking on approaching the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for support.
“It is a matter of principle. I have been very clear that I don’t like to simply use and throw just because we have the number and we don’t require somebody today. I think it is unhealthy for the overall larger development and the trust factor goes down. That is why although we had 32 MLAs I still approached the UDP and PDF personally, it is not that they called me or anything…,” Sangma said.
He further added, “I know that the numbers are there but as a matter of principle, I would like to take everybody along as we went through thick and thin together. We had lots of challenges but yet we stuck together and I don’t forget these kinds of things. Therefore I want to show that we worked as a team in the past, and we will do it in the future also.”
The NPP-led government has the support of 45 MLAs.
Referring to the MDA 2.0 as a big ship, Sangma said, “I am happy our old team is back again. It is the first positive message that we have given to everybody that we are not the kind of party or a coalition or I am not the kind of person who simply uses the people at the time they are required and not remember them at other times. I may not be able to do everything for everybody but I will ensure that we are able to work together as we have done a lot of things in the past despite the challenges and I would like to work together again.”
He said there were lots of differences during the election time but it is not something that cannot be overcome.
“Therefore, let us start in a positive way. Let us overcome all of this, there is a lot of work to be done. The election is over, the mandate has been given. Let us rise above all these concerns and issues,” he added.
The chief minister-designate also appealed to all political parties to work together.
“I appeal to all political parties at this point in time that the election is over now and now we need to move forward with the real work that we have ahead of us,” he said.
On the demand for a chief minister from the Khasi Hills region, Sangma, however, said that the democratic process in which the leaders are elected has been done and that it is not about being from this community or that community.
“Government formation is a democratic process and hence we have followed that democratic process all the way. Of course, there are sentiments. We don’t say that it is not there…,” he said.