May act legally against Sangma for militant remark: Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Wednesday hinted at taking legal action against former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Sangma for accusing him of being the "common chairman" of three militant outfits in the state.

"I am afraid that I may be compelled to move to the court of law to seek redressal on defamation against him (Purno Sangma)," Mukul Sangma told journalists.

The chief minister termed the National People's Party (NPP) chief's allegations as a sign of "desperation" and "frustration" after having failed to make an impression in last year's assembly polls, where the NPP won only two seats.

"He should respect the mandate of the people," Mukul Sangma said.

Purno Sangma's charges against the chief minister followed after the A'chik National Volunteer's Council-B alleged that its chairman Rimpu Marak had a role in ensuring that Mukul Sangma remained chief minister while there was a tussle for power in his previous term.

Meanwhile, Mukul Sangma Wednesday did not rule out the possibility of his contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the Tura parliamentary seat, currently represented by Nationalist Congress Party's Agatha Sangma.

"Nothing can be ruled out until the list of candidates is approved. It all depends on the party high command. If the Congress president asks me to contest the polls, then I will have to agree," he said.

Sangma's comment came after he met Congress secretary Vijay Laxmi Sadho who is camping in the state to get feedback from 29 Congress legislators and party workers on the winnability factor of those candidates who have applied for a ticket from Shillong and Tura seats.

The chief minister had contested against Purno Sangma in the 2004 and 2006 Lok Sabha polls, but had lost in both elections.