Shillong, June 10: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday asserted the need to iron out issues within the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA). Sangma told reporters that there are complications in the coalition and it can never be simple and never easy.

He was reacting to a query if the National People’s Party (NPP) is really tolerating the BJP and its allegations of corruption as stated by one of its leaders Timothy D Shira, who is also currently the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly.

Stating that he has nothing to say on the personal opinion of the senior leader, Sangma however said, “What is important to remember is that at the end of the day even the issues are there, we need to sit together and resolve it.”

The chief minister also lauded the maturity shown by the leaders of the different coalition partners.

“I have seen in this coalition, no matter what difficulties and challenges we have faced, we have seen a lot of maturity from the different leaders and political parties to come together and realized that whatever case may be, we need to find a solution and move forward.”

Admitting that the NPP is working closely with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Sangma said, “We have always got a very positive response from them when it comes to issues concerning the state and specially development agendas. Therefore, we are working closely.”

“There are issues here which could be local workers, local party leaders but as I said in the larger picture of things we need to figure out and we need to move forward so that is the way I look at it,” he added.

Asked how long NPP will tolerate the state BJP for its anti-government campaigns, the chief minister said, “It is not about tolerating. It is about working together and trying to iron out issues so whenever concerns are there I am happy that we do iron out the issues and concerns that are there.”

On the coalition partners trying to wash their hands on many issues, Sangma however said he is not chief minister of NPP but chief minister of MDA and that he is ready to take full responsibility for all that happens in the government.

“I have no issues with that. As the chairman of the MDA I always say that I take full responsibility and it is my responsibility at the end of the day to always ensure that whatever problems are there we resolve it so it may not be some issues directly under the departments that I am handling but as the head of the government I am responsible for all that happens,” he said.

“Therefore, I don’t see any problem it ultimately coming to Conrad I mean I don’t look at myself as an NPP chief minister here as I am the chief minister of the MDA government and I am the chairman of the MDA government and every coalition partner that is there is part of my coalition,” he added.