In what is being seen as a blow to former Lok Sabha Speaker and Nationalist Trinamool Congress (NTC) leader Purno A. Sangma, the eight NCP legislators in Meghalaya have been directed by party president, Sharad Pawar, to campaign for the Congress candidate from Tura, Mukul Sangma. Most of the eight legislators have been considered close to the former Speaker.Chief Minister and Congress leader D.D. Lapang met Pawar in New Delhi recently and discussed the NCP’s extending support to Mukul Sangma with him. This morning, Lapang met with NCP’s newly appointed state chief and former minister Mohindro Rava. Mukul Sangma was also present. Lapang handed over Pawar’s letter directing NCP’s Meghalaya unit to campaign for the Congress in Rava. A one-time Sangma loyalist, Rava said he would issue a directive soon to all NCP legislators to start campaigning for Mukul Sangma. Rava also said that ‘‘disciplinary action’’ would be taken against those violating the order.
