TURA, June 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has revealed to the public that disgruntled party MLA cum MDC Benedic R Marak of Raksamgre tried to break the MDA government and the party with support of an opposition party while holding the position of CEM in the GHADC at the beginning of this year.

“While we as the state government was working closely with the GHADC to provide salaries to the employees who had not been paid for many months, Benedic Marak was conspiring with the opposition parties to break the government at the state and district council. He was even blaming me for what had happened in the council,” revealed Conrad Sangma during a public meeting at Raksamgre on Saturday evening.

He said that Benedic Marak called NPP MLAs and MDCs from Garo Hills asking them to join hands with him and align with an opposition party so that the MDA government collapsed and the NPP split. For this to happen, he allegedly tried to lure the legislators with the promise of ministerial berths.

While the chief minister refrained from naming the opposition party that Benedic was mustering support for, indications are that it was the All India Trinamool Congress since the former CEM had taken their support in a failed bid to hold on to power in the GHADC in January as a no confidence motion was being moved against him.

“He approached our MLAs and MDCs from Garo Hills and told them to withdraw support so that the Conrad K Sangma government collapses. He even promised them cabinet minister’s posts if they walked away from the NPP and the government. But none obliged him and instead I was informed,” recalled the chief minister.

Conrad said that on being alerted about these attempts he had summoned Benedic Marak to a meeting and advised him to desist.

“I said that I was aware of all that he was doing to dislodge the government and advised him to stop. I even forgave him and said I am willing to give him another chance and continue as CEM of GHADC. But he remained adamant and refused to learn and continued with the attempts to create instability which is why we have decided to take disciplinary action against him,” announced Conrad K Sangma.

“As a national party the NPP will move for disciplinary action which will be suspension and we will also file a complaint with the Assembly Secretariat and the Assembly Speaker seeking Benedic’s disqualification as an MLA under the Anti Defection law. If he gets disqualified under anti-defection law he cannot contest for next six years” cautions the chief minister.