Meghalaya CM draws flak over online lottery deal

Khonglam, who holds the record of being the only Independent MLA to occupy the CM’s office anywhere in the country, also faces a challenge from the Congress, also a PFM constituent, which is looking for an opportune moment to oust the NCP from the ruling front.

Khonglam decided to award the lottery contract to Subba’s firm at a Cabinet meet last week. This was highlighted by the Public Rally Against Corruption, an NGO comprising activists, student bodies and women’s organisations of Shillong, as a major issue of corruption.

But Khonglam, an ‘‘associate member’’ of the NCP has accused the Congress of making an issue out of a non-issue ‘‘as the Cabinet that has approved of the deal has several Congress members.’’ Khonglam’s mentor and NCP boss P.A. Sangma is also away in Switzerland, making things more difficult for him.

The NCP, the largest group in the 56-member ruling front, has 16 MLAs, followed by the Congress with 15, and the latter has been looking for an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Senior Congress leader and former CM S.C. Marak has already announced that his party would soon pull out of the PFM. Sources said that Sangma, who has been in touch with his confidants, is apparently unhappy with the way Khonglam is handling things. But the NCP is not in a position to allow the Congress to take control of the ruling front, especially with polls only six months away.

Sangma on his part had two weeks ago expressed his willingness to return to state politics after a hiatus of over a decade.