"Meghalaya has been the worst state in terms of development, and now it is the worst where there is no rule of law, no respect to democracy and no respect for the constitution," Sangma told a press conference.
His outburst came a day after state NCP working president E K Sangma and seven other leaders all elected members of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) shifted their allegiance to the Congress, paving the way for the ruling party to clinch power in the Garo council. "I am happy to return to the parent party.
I will be able to serve the people better from the Congress fold," E K Sangma said. With the joining of the seven the MDCs (members of district council), the Congress now has 18 members in the 30 members GHADC.
Following that, the state cabinet last night decided to revoke the Administrator rule in the GHADC and convene a special session for trial of strength and subsequent installation of a popular executive council.
The GHADC was placed under Administrator rule since April 1 last year in the wake of a political instability set off after allegations that the ruling NCP had clutched on to power despite losing majority.
P A Sangma, however, said the state government was trying to forcibly install the executive committee of the GHADC that is in violation of a recent Gauhati High Court ruling that had asked the government to maintain status quo.
"A division bench of the Gauhati High Court had ruled that till the inquiry into the alleged financial irregularities in the GHADC is over, there cannot be any installation of the executive council (EC). The government's move to install the EC is purely violation of the court verdict.
The NCP will file a contempt of court against the government," the NCP leader said. On the defections, Sangma said, "it is not defection. It is something else. Wait and see." He claimed that one of the defector has conveyed to him that his joining the Congress is not to betray the NCP but "to teach someone a lesson."