07-27-2008, 02:04 AM
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Sangma predicts hung Parliament</b>
Sushanta Talukdar
NCP hopes to double its strength
P.A. Sangma
Guwahati: The former Lok Sabha Speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Purno Agitok Sangma, on Saturday predicted that the next Lok Sabha polls would throw up another hung Parliament necessitating the formation of a coalition government at the Centre.
He declined to make any prediction if the next coalition government would be led by the Congress or not. He, however, told reporters here that the NCP hoped to double its strength in the Lok Sabha from 11 members. The former speaker said that the Lok Sabha elections would be held on time and not ahead of schedule.
The NCP general secretary said that the âso-called third frontâ would not sustain as the latest polarisation of political forces had been specifically on a single issue of whether to support or not the India-U.S. nuclear deal.
About his partyâs strategy for the next Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Sangma said that in Meghalaya the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), of which his party is a coalition partner, would field candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats of the State â NCP for the Tura seat and the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the Shillong seat.
About his partyâs prospects in various states, Mr. Sangma said that apart from Maharashtra, the NCP had a very good chance in Goa, Lakshadweep, Anadaman and Nicobor islands, one or two seats in Bihar while the party would also put up candidates in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. On Assam, the party was yet to finalise its strategy and was still exploring whether to contest alone or to enter into a tie-up with any political party, he added.
He congratulated Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee âfor his decision not to resign and not to succumb to the pressure of the Left parties and upholding the dignity of post of Speaker.â The former Lok Sabha speaker said that the CPI(M) is bound to lose for expelling Mr. Chatterjee.
Asked to comment on the cash-for-vote episode, Mr. Sangma said âit was shameful and unwarranted.â âIf they had really been paid money they should have gone to the police station. I think the Speaker will order an enquiry and the enquiry is eventually a must.â
About the fate of the MPs expelled by the parties for cross voting or abstaining during the trust vote, Mr. Sangma said the expulsion alone would lead to disqualification and the parties would have to lodge complaints to the Lok Sabha Speaker that the expelled MP had violated party whips and the Speaker would have to give notices to the member concerned and decide after taking evidences.